IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY 

OF  THE 


UNITED  STATES. 

\ 


JVU^t 


'B- 


Irish-American  History 


OF  THE 


UNITED  STATES. 


BY  THE 


Very  Rev.  JOHN  CANON  O’HANLON,  m.r.i.a. 


WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION  BY  THE 

Very  Rev.  THOMAS  J.  SHAHAN, 

Catholic  University,  Washington,  D.  C. 


VOLUME  I. 


NEW  YORK : 

P.  MURPHY  &  SON, 
279  CHURCH  STREET. 


1906. 


BOSTON  COLLEGE  LIBRARY 
CHESTNUT  HILL,  HASS, 


« 


PRINTED  BY 
P.  MURPHY  &  SON, 
279  CHURCH  STREET, 
NEW  YORK. 

05  C 


INTRODUCTION 

AND 

MEMOIR  OF  THE  AUTHOR 

BY 

The  Very  Rev.  Thomas  J.  Shahan,  D.  D. 

CATHOLIC  UNIVERSITY,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

John  O'Hanlon  was  born  April  30,  1821,  at  Stradbally,  in 
Queens  County,  Ireland.  He  received  his  early  training  in  local 
and  neighboring  schools,  and  was  sent  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
to  Carlow  College.  Four  years  later  his  studies  were  interrupt¬ 
ed  by  the  resolution  to  accompany  some  relatives  to  the  New 
(World.  He  landed  at  Quebec  in  1842,  but  after  a  sojourn  of 
some  months  went  on  to  St.  Louis.  He  soon  entered  (1843) 
the  Ecclesiastical  Seminary  of  that  diocese,  and  was  ordained 
to  the  priesthood  by  Archbishop  Kendrick  in  1847.  Tor  five 
or  six  years  he  devoted  himself  to  the  duties  of  his  calling, 
arduous  enough  at  that  period  of  rapid  national  growth  and 
economic  expansion.  But  failing  health  turned  his  thoughts 
again  to  the  land  of  his  fathers,  and  in  1853  he  returned  to| 
Dublin,  where  he  was  made  curate  at  the  Church  of  Saint" 
Michael  and  John,  a  post  that  he  occupied  until  1880,  when  he 
was  promoted  to  the  parish  of  Sandymount.  In  1885  he  was 
made  a  Canon  of  the  Dublin  Cathedral  by  Archbishop  Walsh. 
In  1897  he  celebrated  the  Golden  Jubilee  of  his  priesthood. 
His  death  occurred  on  May  15,  1905,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-four.  He  is  buried  in  Glasnevin  Cemetery,  Dublin. 

Canon  O’Hanlon  is  remembered  by  his  faithful  flock  as  a 
devoted  priest,  to  whom  the  beauty  and  glory  of  the  house  of 
God,  the  parish  schools  and  property,  the  industrial  schools  of 
the  neighborhood,  were  especially  dear.  Amid  his  learned 
occupations  he  never  neglected  the  work  of  his  sacred  ministry, 
nor  the  care  of  the  poor,  sick  and  lowly.  As  an  Irishman,  he 
was  one  of  the  foremost  patriotic  figures  of  the  nineteenth 


ii  INTRODUCTION 

century.  He  had  heard  O’Connell,  as  a  boy  of  fifteen,  in  1836, 
on  the  Great  Heath  at  Maryborough,  and  was  present  at  the 
banquet  then  given  at  Stradbally  to  the  Liberator.  He  loved 
to  recall  the  political  ballads  of  that  decade  apropos  of  Sir 
Henry  Parnell  and  his  “History  of  the  Penal  Laws,”  and  the 
melodious  folk-tunes  of  the  pre-famine  period,  many  of  which 
to  his  great  regret,  he  lived  to  see  perish  from  the  popular 
memory.  His  love  of  Moore’s  Melodies  was  well-known  to 
all  his  friends.  He  was  also  a  great  admirer  of  the  “Young 
Ireland”  poetry,  and  at  his  death  was  engaged  on  an  edition 
of  the  fugitive  writings  of  the  patriot-poet,  John  Keegan.  He 
was  an  active  member  of  the  committee  on  the  centenary  cele¬ 
bration  in  honor  of  O’Connell,  and  as  secretary  of  the  O’Connell 
Memorial  Committee  drew  up  the  valuable  report  of  its  pro¬ 
ceedings  from  1862  to  1882.  To  him  is  owing  in  no  small 
measure  the  splendid  Dublin  monument  to  O’Connell,  the  mas¬ 
terpiece  of  Foley’s  art,  and  one  of  the  finest  monumental  sculp¬ 
tures  in  Europe.  He  was  also  active  in  the  creation  of 
memorials  to  the  poets  Thomas  Moore  and  Denis  Florence 
McCarthy.  His  earnestness  in  the  work  of  the  Gaelic  League 
is  well  known,  likewise  his  intelligent  devotion  to  the  historical 
monuments  of  Ireland,  the  manuscripts,  records,  books,  and 
curious  remains  that  still  enshrine  no  little  of  the  glorious 
past  of  the  beloved  island.  He  was  for  forty  years  an  active 
and  painstaking  member  of  the  Kilkenny  Archaeological 
Society,  to  which  he  had  been  elected  on  the  proposition  of 
such  an  Irish  antiquarian  as  Bishop  Graves.  Within  the  limits 
of  his  sacred  calling  he  seems  to  have  omitted  no  endeavor  to 
serve  his  native  country  as  a  scholar,  a  poet,  and  a  man  of 
action. 

The  catalogue  of  Canon  O’Hanlon’s  literary  labors  is  a  long 
one,  and  covers  a  period  of  more  than  fifty  years  of  incessant 
study,  research,  and  publication.  He  was  a  man  of  adamantine 
endurance,  and  though  by  his  departure  the  Church  of  the 
United  States  surely  lost  a  pen  of  great  power,  the  larger 
world  of  ecclesiastical  learning  was  proportionately  the  gainer. 
It  may  be  stated  at  once  that  he  never  ceased  to  love  the  great 


INTRODUCTION  Hi 

Republic,  whose  institutions  and  spirit  he  thoroughly  under¬ 
stood  and  admired,  as  the  work  here  offered  to  the  reader  will 
make  clear.  Among  his  published  writings  is  a  volume  of  remi¬ 
niscences  entitled,  “Life  and  Scenery  in  Missouri”  (Dublin, 
1890).  In  1897  he  crossed  the  ocean  to  take  part  in  the  Golden 
Episcopal  Jubilee  of  Archbishop  Kendrick,  who  fifty  years 
earlier  had  raised  him  to  the  dignity  of  priesthood.  It  would 
seem  that  Canon  O’ Hanlon  became  an  historian  out  of  the 
fulness  of  his  conviction  that  the  Christian  history  of  Ireland 
is  one  of  the  noblest  chapters  of  all  theology.  His  first  work 
was  an  “Abridgment  of  Irish  History  from  the  Final  Subjec¬ 
tion  of  Ireland  to  the  Present  Time”  (Boston,  1849),  written 
with  the  view,  no  doubt,  of  fixing  on  the  mind  of  the  young 
Irish  emigrant  the  great  religious  lesson  of  his  forefathers’ 
patient  endurance  and  fidelity.  It  was  followed  by  “The  Irish 
Emigrant’s  Guide  to  the  United  tSates”  (Boston,  1851),  long 
a  very  popular  work  among  the  unfortunate  Irish  wanderers  in 
a  new  land.  During  the  years  of  his  American  ministry  he 
contributed  frequently  to  literary  magazines  and  newspapers, 
and  was  known,  before  he  left  us,  as  an  ecclesiastical  scholar 
and  an  antiquarian  of  promise.  It  will  be  admitted  that,  given 
the  duties  of  the  parochial  service  in  the  United  States  and 
the  scarcity  of  good  libraries  of  Irish  lore,  these  first  zealous 
efforts  deserve  special  commendation.  He  was  soon,  however, 
to  find  himself  in  a  centre  where  opportunity,  talent  and  energy 
might  combine  to  make  of  him,  if  not  an  historical  genius,  at 
least  one  of  the  most  useful  writers  who.  have  yet  appeared  on 
the  soil  of  Ireland.  Shortly  after  his  return  he  began  his  career 
as  the  hagiologist  of  Ireland,  and  at  the  same  time  compli¬ 
mented  his  adopted  city  with  a  little  volume  entitled,  “A  Short 
Life  of  St.  Lawrence  O’Toole”  (Dublin,  1857).  A  good  judge 
says  of  it  that  “it  dispelled  the  cloud  of  ignorance  respecting  the 
life  of  St.  Lawrence,  which  had  been  created  by  the  wanton  mis¬ 
representation  of  hostile,  careless  and  faithless  chroniclers,  suc¬ 
cessfully  refuted  the  false  views  which  had  been  propagated  by 
political  or  religious  malevolence  and  set  the  character  of  the 
illustrious  subject  of  his  work  in  a  true  light  before  the 


iv 


INTRODUCTION 


public/’  In  a  sense  this  judgment  is  applicable  to  all  the  good 
Canon’s  later  writings.  Two  years  later  he  brought  out  a 
“Life  of  St.  Malachy  O’Morgair”  (Dublin,  1859),  that  had 
originally  been  undertaken  in  the  Boston  Pilot  (1853).  Then 
followed  at  various  intervals  other  lives  of  famous  ancient 
saints  of  Ireland:  St.  Dympna  (Dublin,  1863)  ;  St.  Aengus,  the 
Culdee  (ibid.,  1868) ;  St.  David  (ibid.,  1869)  ;  St.  Grellan 
(ibid.,  1881).  One  of  his  most  useful  books  is  his  “Catechism 
of  Irish  History  from  the  earliest  times  to  the  death  of  O’Con¬ 
nell”  (Dublin,  1864). 

This  gifted  priest  was  not  only  an  excellent  historian,  but 
also  a  graceful  poet,  who  knew  how  to  clothe  in  pleasing  metre 
the  thousand  and  one  traditions  that  everywhere  cling  to  the 
soil  of  Ireland.  In  1870  he  published,  under  the  nom  de  plume 
of  Lageniensis  (the  man  of  Leix),  a  volume  of  poetry  entitled, 
“Legend  Lays  of  Ireland,”  in  which  old  and  familiar  fairy 
legends  of  his  people  were  treated  with  much  success.  In  the 
same  year  he  published  a  prose  volume  of  popular  traditions, 
“Irish  Folk-Lore,”  which  embraces  “a  vast  amount  of  anti¬ 
quarian  and  historical  information  connected  with  various 
periods  of  the  national  annals.”  The  grave  of  the  famous 
O’Carolan,  the  last  of  the  Irish  harpers,  was  visited  by  him  in 
1881,  and  suggested  to  him  a  new  volume  of  verse,  “The  Buried 
Lady:  A  Legend  of  Kilronan.”  In  1893  he  made  a  collection 
of  all  his  metrical  writings,  under  the  title,  “Poetical  Works  of 
Lageniensis,”  and  dedicated  the  same  to  the  Countess  of  Aber¬ 
deen,  as  a  tribute  to  her  genuine  love  for  the  Irish  people. 
Another  volume  on  “Irish  Local  Legends”  appeared  in  1895, 
and  placed  him  among  the  most  successful  collectors  of  the  rare 
and  curious  antique  lore  that  has  been  so  long  drifting  down  the 
ages  in  Ireland,  but  that  is  now  on  the  wane,  and  will  per¬ 
haps  not  survive  many  more  generations.  In  the  meantime  he 
brought  the  nation  more  deeply  in  his  debt  by  new  editions  of 
two  important  works,  Monck-Mason’s  “Essay  on  the  Antiquity 
and  Constitution  of  Parliaments  in  Ireland”  (Dublin,  1891), 
and  William  Molyneaux’s  “The  Case  bf  Ireland’s  Being  Bound 
by  Acts  of  Parliament  in  England  Stated”  (Dublin,  1893). 


INTRODUCTION 


V 

The  latter  work,  originally  published  in  1698,  had  been  burned 
by  the  common  hangman,  and  only  one  edition  had  since  then 
seen  the  light.  The  tireless  pen  of  this  scholarly  antiquarian 
seemed,  indeed,  never  to  rest.  He  compiled  a  “Catechism  of 
Greek  Grammar”  and  “Devotions  for  Confession  and  Holy 
Communion,”  almost  as  a  rest  from  his  many  heavier  labors. 
During  his  last  illness  he  was  still  busied  with  a  history  of  the 
antiquities  of  his  native  Leix  (Queens  County),  on  which, 
in  his  intervals  of  leisure,  he  had  spent  considerable  research. 
He  reminds  us,  indeed,  of  Saint  Columbia  and  Saint  Bede,  both 
of  whom  died  almost  in  the  act  of  dictating  to  their  brother 
scribes.  It  seems  incredible  that  amid  so  many  enterprises  he 
found  time  to  compose  the  work  that  is  here  presented  to  our 
readers.  It  will  always  possess  an  added  interest  from  the 
fact  that  the  original  text  perished  in  the  fire  that  had  con¬ 
sumed  his  publishers’  premises  in  1898.  Nothing  daunted, 
he  sat  down  to  the  task  a  second  time,  rewrote  the  entire  work, 
and  published  it  as  a  large  quarto  (Dublin,  1903). 

We  have  yet,  however,  to  mention  the  great  work  on  which 
his  fame  will  forever  rest,  “The  Lives  of  the  Irish  Saints.” 
As  early  as  1857  he  announced  his  resolution  to  compose  a 
series  of  lives  of  the  Saints  of  Ireland  in  twelve  volumes, 
following  the  order  of  the  calendar.  It  was  to  be  for  Irish 
history  what  Alban  Butler’s  “Lives  of  the  Saints”  had  long 
been  for  general  ecclesiastical  history,  a  vast  and  final  work 
of  reference  and  edification.  The  Jesuit  Henry  Fitzsimon,  the 
priest  Thomas  Messingham,  above  all  the  Franciscans  Patrick 
Fleming,  Luke  Wadding,  Hugh  Ward  and  John  Colgan,  had 
all  toiled  variously  and  with  great  success,  in  the  first  half  of 
the  seventeenth  century,  at  a  great  compilation  that  was  eventu¬ 
ally  to  be  known  as  the  “Acta  Sanctorum  Hiberniae”  or  the 
“Lives  of  the  Saints  of  Ireland.”  In  the  sad  and  dreary  period 
that  followed  the  “thorough”  work  of  Oliver  Cromwell  the 
Irish  clergy  found  no  longer  heart  or  occasion  to  take  up  a 
task  so  congenial  to  their  temper  and  the  character  of  their 
nation.  It  was  reserved  for  the  modest  and  laborious  curate  of 
Saints  Michael  and  John  to  bend  his  shoulders  to  a  work  that 


INTRODUCTION 


VI 


might  well  challenge  the  organized  efforts  of  a  community  of 
writers.  In  1872  he  issued  the  prospectus  of  his  enterprise, 
as  a  subscription  work,  and  promised  to  bring  it  out  monthly 
in  parts  of  sixty-four  pages  each,  profusely  illustrated.  He 
kept  his  promise,  and  finished  the  herculean  undertaking  shortly 
before  his  death.  It  includes  the  lives  of  about  3,500  saints 
of  Ireland,  some  of  them  dealt  with  briefly,  but  many  at  very 
great  length.  The  nine  volumes  before  us  number  over  six 
thousand  large  octavo  pages,  and  the  remaining  parts,  when 
they  issue  from  the  press  as  volumes,  will  probably  raise  this 
figure  to  eight  thousand  pages  or  more.  It  is  a  very  unique 
performance  in  the  department  of  hagiology,  whether  we  con¬ 
sider  the  unbroken  ardor  of  fifty  years’  toil,  the  faithful  execu¬ 
tion  of  a  perilous  promise,  the  uniform  excellence  of  the  work, 
or  the  admitted  need  and  value  of  a  history  of  Irish  sanctity  that 
shall  correspond  to  our  modern  methods  and  attainments  in  the 
province  of  history.  That  he  succeeded  in  endowing  his  native 
land  with  a  monument  that  any  Catholic  people  would  forever 
cherish  is  allowed  by  all  who  are  familiar  with  the  field  of 
labor,  among  others  by  the  Bollandists,  to  whose  scholarly 
company  he  must  henceforth  be  accredited  as  an  associate,  at 
least  in  learning,  faith,  spirit,  and  good  work.  These  volumes 
include  the  result  of  infinite  research  in  all  the  departments 
of  Irish  history,  for  the  Saints  of  Ireland,  since  St.  Patrick, 
are  its  true  heroes,  its  representatives,  and  the  flower  of  its 
thought  and  action.  In  so  old  a  land  the  identification  of  place 
and  personal  names  is  no  slight  task.  A  chief  source  of  infor¬ 
mation  is  the  collection  of  ancient  maps  and  manuscripts  be¬ 
longing  to  the  Irish  Ordnance  Survey  Department  in  Dublin. 
Canon  O'Hanlon  had  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  all  this 
material;  he  was  likewise  master  of  the  contents  of  the  rich 
public  libraries  of  his  native  city  and  of  other  cites,  as  well  as 
of  valuable  private  collections  of  books  on  the  topography  and 
antiquities  of  Ireland.  In  the  course  of  his  labors  he  was 
encouraged  and  often  helped  by  such  scholars  as  Dr.  John 
O’Donovan,  Professor  Eugene  O’Curry,  Dr.  Todd,  and  other 
Irish  antiquarians  of  the  first  rank.  The  beautiful  font  of  Irish 


INTRODUCTION 


•  • 
Vll 

type  occasionally  used  in  his  “Lives  of  the  Irish  Saints”  was 
originally  designed  by  Dr.  Petrie  for  the  Catholic  University 
of  Ireland. 

The  work  of  Canon  O’Hanlon  took  on  the  character  of  a 
national  monument.  And  as  it  progressed  the  learned  world  in 
general  applauded  the  rare  erudition,  good  judgment  and  mod¬ 
eration,  skilful  order  and  sense  of  proportion,  grasp  of  environ¬ 
ment  and  unflagging  regularity  of  industry  which  he  brought 
to  the  execution  of  this  imperishable  Hall  of  Fame,  in  which 
each  of  the  model  national  worthies  has  his  appropriate  niche 
or  pedestal.  It  has  been  truly  said  that  the  future  ecclesiastical 
historian  of  Ireland — whoever  he  may  be — must  forever  feel 
indebted  to  the  good  priest,  whose  labors  for  half  a  century 
have  resulted  in  placing  at  his  disposal  an  inexhaustible  fund 
of  well-digested  and  reliable  information,  not  only  concerning 
the  personal  history  of  the  Irish  Saints,  but  also  about  the 
social,  political,  literary  and  aesthetic  life  of  Ireland  during  the 
period  of  her  native  independence  and  brilliancy.  Archbishop 
Walsh,  in  commending  the  proposal  to  erect  a  suitable  memorial 
to  the  deceased  scholar,  took  occasion  to  state  that  in  the  eru¬ 
dite  volumes  of  the  “Lives  of  the  Irish  Saints,”  compiled  with 
zeal  and  diligence  in  the  spare  moments  of  a  busy  missionary 
life,  Canon  O’Hanlon  had  “preserved  for  the  instruction  and 
edification  of  future  generations  all  that  has  been  handed  down 
to  us  of  the  lives  and  labors  of  the  recorded  saints  of  our 
Irish  Church.” 

As  a  writer  Canon  O’Hanlon  was  habitually  painstaking  and 
accurate.  His  information,  when  possible,  was  gathered  at 
first  hand,  and  the  habit  of  composition  enabled  him  to  set  it 
forth  with  good  order  and  proportion.  His  style  is  lucid  and 
simple,  a  good  specimen  of  the  historical  narrative,  and  his 
diction  always  select  and  dignified.  He  siezes  with  ease  on  the 
salient  and  distinctive  traits  of  a  personality  or  a  situation,  and 
thereby  relieves  the  reader  of  that  vagueness  and  complexity 
that  sometimes  diminishes  the  satisfaction  afforded  by  other¬ 
wise  good  histories.  His  spirit  was  ever  aflame  with  the  love 
of  his  native  religion  and  his  native  land.  Yet  nothing  glad- 


Vlll 


INTRODUCTION 


dened  him  more  through  a  long  life  than  the  consciousness  that 
he  was  working,  not  alone  for  those  who  dwelt  within  the 
“four  seas  of  Ireland,”  but  also  for  that  greater  Ireland-over¬ 
sea,  to  whose  children  and  whose  children's  children  he  would 
forever  speak  as  a  trustworthy  herald  of  long-forgotten  ages  of 
glorious  endeavor  that  might  otherwise,  perhaps,  perish  only 
too  easily  from  the  minds  and  the  hearts  of  Irishmen  in  the 
United  States  of  America,  Canada,  Southern  Africa,  United 
States  of  Australia,  India  and  other  parts  of  the  world.  May 
he  rest  in  peace! 


VERY  REV.  TOHN  CANON  O’HANLON,  M.  R.  T.  A 


PREFACE 


V 


It  is  universally  admitted  by  those  well  informed  and  capable 
of  entertaining  a  rational  opinion,  that  the  United  States  of 
America  now  stand  foremost  among  all  civilised  nations  of  the 
world,  in  vastness  of  extent,  in  compactness  of  territory,  in 
fertility  of  soil,  in  mineral  wealth,  in  variety  and  general  health¬ 
fulness  of  climate, in  geographical  position,  in  beauty  of  scenery, 
and  in  many  other  natural  advantages.  Far  away  from  the  Old 
World,  and  only  conjecturally  known  to  exist  by  the  ancients, 
the  earlier  historic  life  of  this  grand  Federation  seems  to  have 
hitherto  baffled  the  researches  of  ethnologists  and  antiquaries. 
For  the  last  four  hundred  years  however,  few  facts  of  interest 
are  unrecorded,  as  relating  to  the  migrations  of  European 
settlers,  the  steady  growth  of  population,  the  spreading  of  civili¬ 
sation,  the  rivalry  of  rulers,  races  and  colonies,  with  those 
vicissitudes  which  brought  the  colonists  from  a  state  of  subjec¬ 
tion,  and  at  length  resulted  in  obtaining  their  complete  indepen¬ 
dence.  Nor  are  subsequent  events  less  interesting  from  a  social 
and  political  point  of  view,  not  alone  to  the  people  of  the 
United  States  themselves,  but  to  every  intelligent  student  of 
history  however  far  removed,  as  furnishing  lessons  by  which  he 
can  fairly  estimate  their  gradual  and  upward  progress  under  free 
Republican  institutions,  to  their  present  unexampled  condition 
of  prosperity  and  power. 

For  Irishmen  at  home  and  abroad,  the  consideration  of 
these  topics  has  a  special  attraction  and  interest,  because  our 
countrymen  had  a  most  important  share  in  first  discovering,  and 
afterwards  in  drawing  attention  to  those  distant  shores.  More¬ 
over,  Ireland  sent  thither  the  earliest  recorded  settlers  from 
Europe.  Their  acts  and  memories  have  alike  perished  through 
some  unknown  fatality,  and  for  want  of  reliable  historic  record 


PREFACE. 

Nevertheless,  from  early  colonial  days  to  the  present,  a  stream 
of  Irish  emigrants  constantly  flowed  westward;  while  the 
achievements  of  these  settlers  and  of  their  descendants,  known 
as  Irish-Americans,  have  largely  aided  in  shaping  the  destinies, 
and  in  developing  the  resources  of  the  great  Republic.  Many 
of  those  were  men  of  ability  and  renown,  as  likewise  dis¬ 
tinguished  for  their  heroic  and  praiseworthy  actions.  In  the 
general  history  of  the  American  Commonwealth,  and  in  the 
particular  history  of  its  several  States,  their  names  are 
prominent  and  of  frequent  occurrence.  So  far  as  can  be  ascer¬ 
tained,  many  previous  unaccountable  omissions  to  record  their 
race  and  ancestry  have  been  supplied  in  the  present  work. 

Nevertheless,  it  seems  strange,  that  no  attempt  has  been 
hitherto  made,  to  set  before  the  people  of  Ireland,  by  writers 
or  publishers,  a  general  and  complete  History  of  the  United 
States.  Such  a  reproach  on  our  country  it  is  now  desired  to 
remove,  and  to  place  within  reasonable  compass  accounts  from 
the  earliest  known  period  to  the  commencement  of  the 
twentieth  century.  For  several  years  the  present  writer  was  a 
resident  and  citizen  in  the  trans-Atlantic  Republic;  moreover, 
he  was  an  attentive  student  of  its  history,  and  an  interested 
observer  of  the  manners,  habits,  and  usages  of  its  inhabitants 
as  also  familiar  with  the  various  movements  and  changes 
taking  place  among  parties  and  politicians.  In  this  volume 
he  has  presumed  to  summarize  the  leading  historic  occurrences 
in  an  orderly  and  intelligible  narrative,  with  the  abundant 
materials  supplied  by  our  public  Libraries  in  Dublin,  and 
official  documents  obtained  from  the  United  States’  archives 
in  Washington.  Every  chief  statement  of  the  compiler 
throughout,  invariably  sustained  by  authorities  frequently 
quoted,  affords  facilities  for  further*  research  and  for  more 
extended  inquiry  regarding  detailed  information. 

As  this  is  intended  to  be  a  compendious  History,  and  yet 
sufficiently  complete,  to  afford  a  fairly  exact  narrative  of  events 
from  the  earliest  accounts  to  the  present  day,  the  chief  and 
best  authors  and  works  on  the  subject  have  been  carefully  and 
frequently  consulted.  Among  those  authorities  for  the  early 


PREFACE. 


and  Colonial  Days,  Charlevoix,  Robertson,  Neal,  Hutchinson^ 
Washington  Irving,  Bancroft,  Grahame,  Parkman,  John 
Gilmary  Shea,  and  other  standard  writers,  have  been  most 
used.  Some  of  the  last-named  carried  their  narratives  to  the 
end  of  the  American  Revolution  ;  while  this  stirring  period  of 
National  History  has  been  illustrated  by  different  contempor¬ 
aneous  accounts  and  by  many  valuable  works  subsequently 
published.  Several  of  these  have  been  examined,  and  their 
statements  compared  very  carefully  by  the  writer,  before 
noting  the  conclusions  at  which  he  arrived.  In  due  order  of 
narrative,  and  desiring  to  be  impartial,  authorities  on  the 
English  and  American  views  of  international  questions  are 
respectively  indicated,  but  chiefly  in  the  notes  appended. 

For  purposes  of  historical  investigation  and  accuracy — not 
formerly  attainable  by  writers  who  have  treated  very  fully 
these  transactions — the  author  has  carefully  examined  that 
invaluable  late  publication,  B.  F.  Stevens’  “  Facsimiles  of 
Manuscripts  in  European  Archives  relating  to  America.” 
They  are  taken  from  unpublished  documents  in  public  and 
private  collections,  while  they  contain  much  confidential  and 
most  secret  intelligence,  informations  and  correspondence  of 
the  British  Government  with  its  political  agents  and  spies. 
Especially  are  those  documents  absolutely  necessary  for  a 
clear  understanding  of  diplomatic  phases  and  secret  instruc¬ 
tions,  which  served  to  direct  the  civil  and  military  movements, 
that  produced  important  final  results.  The  current  opinions 
of  persons  and  the  intelligence  obtained  of  contemporaneous 
events,  as  related  even  in  good  faith  by  previous  writers, 
must  be  considerably  modified  by  such  revelations,  which 
often  conflict  with  the  received  statements  of  historians.  The 
secret  intelligence  and  frequently  intercepted  letters  ob¬ 
tained  by  and  from  England,  France,  Holland,  and  Spain, 
particularly  during  the  period  of  the  American  Revolution¬ 
ary  war,  sufficiently  prove  how  deficient,  without  an 
examination  of  those  records,  had  been  the  resources  of 
previous  writers,  to  convey  complete  and  authentic  information 
for  the  instruction  of  their  contemporaries  and  of  posterity. 


PREFACE. 

A  voluminous  work  of  exceeding  great  value  for  the 
student  of  American  History  is  the  copious  and  critical 
narrative,  edited  by  Justin  Winsor,  in  which  special  articles 
or  chapters  have  been  inserted  by  some  of  the  most  capable 
and  well-informed  writers  in  the  United  States.  To  these 
several  contributions  are  added  notices  of  books  previously 
published,  bearing  on  and  requisite  to  elucidate  the  various 
subjects  treated.1  Nevertheless,  this  work  does  not  include 
particulars  relating  immediately  to  the  last  great  Civil  War, 
nor  to  any  succeeding  events. 

So  important  and  interesting  in  a  national  and  political 
view  are  the  causes  and  events  which  led  to  that  grave  dis¬ 
ruption,  and  as  these  more  recent  subjects  have  occupied  so 
large  a  share  of  public  attention  and  comment,  the  chapters 
embracing  such  a  special  division  of  our  narrative  have  been 
proportionately  enlarged,  while  various  conflicting  authorities 
have  been  consulted  to  balance  the  weight  of  evidence  for 
many  of  those  statements,  and  which  are  intended  to  be 
both  accurate  and  impartial  as  relating  to  matters  of  fact, 
both  generalized  and  in  detail.  During  the  year  1866  appeared 
Bartlett’s  “  Literature  of  the  Rebellion,”  which  gives  a 
catalogue  of  more  than  six  thousand  books  or  articles  relative 
to' this  civil  war;  and  since  that  time,  it  is  probable  the 
number  has  been  more  than  doubled.  Besides  this,  during 
the  war  itself  appeared  a  vast  compilation,  extending  to 
twelve  octavo  volumes,  by  Frank  Moore,  styled  “  The 
Rebellion  Record,’’  and  containing  contemporaneous  reports, 
narratives,  correspondence  and  journalistic  extracts ;  yet, 
unless  where  these  are  official  documents,  or  of  a  confidential 
nature,  all  of  these  statements  cannot  be  relied  upon  for 
historic  accuracy.  That  publication  appeared  at  New  York 
from  1861  to  1868.  The  reports  of  General  Lee  and  of  his 
subordinates  were  published  by  the  Confederate  Government 
at  Richnond  in  1864 ;  while  after  the  war  was  over  in  1865  and 
since,  several  Confederate  publications  and  official  documents 

1  See  “  Narrative  and  Critical  History  of  America,”  in  eight  volumes. 
London  :  1879  to  1889,  Royal  8vo.  Sampson,  Low  &  Co.,  publishers. 


PREFACE. 

were  issued.  All  of  those  furnish  materials  for  some  future 
great  History  of  that  remarkable  period.  Much  use  has  been 
made  of  the  very  interesting  and  elegantly  written  work  of 
John  W.  Draper,  M.D.,  LL.D.,  “History  of  the  American  Civil 
War/’2  with  its  valuable  introductory  chapters  to  the  subject 
proper,  and  which  frequently  contain  sound  political  reviews 
regarding  causes  and  results.  An  invaluable  biographical 
work,  “  Abraham  Lincoln  :  a  History,”  written  by  the  secretaries 
of  that  illustrious  President,  has  been  consulted  with  the  utmost 
advantage,  in  reference  to  the  various  incidents  and  chief  actors 
in  the  Civil  War;  nor  have  the  opposite  views  and  statements 
of  Jefferson  Davis,  towards  the  close  of  his  life,  been  withheld 
from  the  reader,  when  they  were  calculated  to  reflect  any  new 
light  on  those  stirring  events,  in  which  he  so  prominently 
participated. 

For  details  of  distinguished  men  who  figure  in  United  States 
History,  reference  is  often  made  to  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  in  six  closely  printed  double  columns 
and  large  octavo  volumes,  published  in  New  York.3  This  work, 
and  “  Irish  Celts,”  by  a  Member  of  the  Michigan  Bar — a  large 
octavo  volume  and  closely  printed  in  double  columns4 — have 
been  frequently  consulted  for  information  regarding  the  race, 
origin  and  career  of  many  historic  characters,  especially  as 
serving  to  elucidate  the  note-worthy  actions  of  Irishmen  and 
of  others  claiming  Irish  descent.  Moreover,  the  “  Encyclopaedia 
Americana  ”  in  four  large  quarto  volumes  contains  a  great 
number  of  interesting  biographies,  as  also  of  technical  articles, 
having  special  relation  to  the  intestine  war  extending  from 
1861  to  1865.  As  the  foregoing  works  of  reference  are  acces¬ 
sible  in  most  of  our  public  Libraries,  and  as  brevity  had  to  be 
attained  in  the  succeeding  pages,  it  was  deemed  quite  suffi¬ 
cient  merely  to  quote  their  ample  notices,  in  the  chief  number 

2  Published  in  three  Royal  8vo  volumes.  London:  1871. 

3  We  would  recommend,  likewise,  Appleton’s  “  Atlas  of  the  United  States,”  as 
most  useful  for  reference  in  the  study  of  this  history,  since  it  presents  in  a  clear 
and  an  intelligible  manner  the  various  localities  and  positions  herein  mentioned, 
and  on  a  sufficiently  large  scale.  Besides,  it  is  accessible  in  most  of  our  public 
libraries.  Published  in  New  York,  by  D.  Appleton  and  Co.  1888.  4to. 

*  Published  at  Detroit,  Mich.  1844,  8vo. 


PREFACE. 


of  cases  regarding  individuals,  many  of  whom  were  even  per¬ 
sonages  of  great  historic  renown. 

Memoirs  of  celebrated  public  characters  in  the  civil,  military 
and  naval  service  of  the  United  States  have  been  examined, 
with  a  view  of  discovering  their  personal  motives,  actions  and 
influence  on  current  events.  Assiduously  and  attentively  some 
of  the  best  works  of  American  historians,  biographers,  statis¬ 
ticians  and  writers  on  constitutional  law  have  been  studied, 
while  exact  information  has  been  sought  from  every  available 
source.  A  coloured  Map  of  the  United  States  appended  to 
this  edition,  and  of  the  most  recent  construction,  must  be 
found  useful  for  general  geographical  and  historical  illustration. 
Various  military  and  naval  movements  or  positions,  alluded  to 
in  the  body  of  this  work,  are  shown  in  maps  specially  en¬ 
graved  to  elucidate  the  text ;  while  portraits  of  the  different 
Presidents,  of  the  leading  Statesmen,  as  also  of  the  most 
distinguished  military  and  naval  Commanders,*  taken  from 
approved  likenesses,  are  introduced  throughout  to  give 
additional  interest  and  attraction  to  the  volume. 


St.  JiIaey’s  CnijTtcH,  Star  of  the  Sea, 
Lrisixtowx,  Dublin. 


mm. 


CONTENTS. 


Preface  ... 


Page 


CHAPTER  I. 

Early  Irish  Traditions  regarding  Hy-Breasail  or  a  Great  Western 
Ireland — Scandinavian  Traditions — The  Voyages  of  Saints  Barind, 
Mernoc  and  Brendan  to  the  Promised  Land — Voyages  of  Saints 
Cormac  Ua  Liathain  and  Baithen — Probability  of  an  Irish 
Christian  Settlement  on  the  Great  Western  Continent — Northman 
Voyages  and  Colonization — Extended  Fame  of  St.  Brendan’s 
Voyage  in  Europe  and  in  Asia  ...  ...  ...  ...  1 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  Aboriginal  Races  of  America — The  Red  Men  and  Mound-Builders 
in  the  United  States — Antiquities  found  there — The  Voyage  and 
Discoveries  of  Christopher  Columbus — Subsequent  Expeditions  and 
their  Results — Hernando  de  Soto’s  Adventures — Conversion  of  the 
Indians  to  Christianity  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  11 


CHAPTER  III. 

The  early  Settlement  of  the  American  Colonies — The  Plymouth  and 
London  Companies — Progress  of  Colonization — Virginia — Maine — 

New  York — New  England — New  Hampshire — New  Jersey — Dela¬ 
ware — Maryland — Connecticut — Rhode  Island. — North  Carolina  ...  25 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Slarery  first  brought  into  Virginia — Formation  of  Colonies — Constitution 
granted  to  Virginia  and  afterwards  withdrawn — Charter  granted 
to  the  Governor  and  Company  of  Massachusetts  Bay — Laws  in 
that  Colony — Indian  War — Dutch  Colonization — Missions  in  Maine  36 

CHAPTER  V. 

Transportation  of  Irish  Slaves  to  the  American  Colonies — Disturbances 
in  Maryland  and  Virginia — Persecution  of  the  Quakers — The  Duke 
of  York  gets  Possession  of  the  Dutch  Colony — The  English  Navi¬ 
gation  Laws — Settlement  of  the  Carolinas — Bacon’s  Rebellion — 
Quaker  Settlements  in  New  Jersey — French  Explorations  on  the 
Mississippi  River — King  Philip’s  Indian  War  in  New  England  ...  47 


CONTENTS. 


XU 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Pag© 

Misgovemment  of  Virginia — Settlement  of  Pennsylvania  by  William 
Penn — Explorations  of  the  Chevalier  de  la  Salle  and  Father  Louis 
Henepin  on  the  Mississippi — Abrogation  of  the  Colonial  Charters — 
Commotions  in  Maryland — Irish  Colonization — William  Penn’s 
Rights  restored  in  Pennsylvania — Progress  of  French  Colonization 
— Witchcraft  Prosecutions  in  New  England — War  between  France 
and  England  ...  .  ...  ...  ...  61 

1  CHAPTER  VII. 

J  French  Settlements  on  the  Mississippi — Missionary  Enterprise — In¬ 
tolerant  Laws  in  New  York — Breaking  out  of  War  between 
England,  France  and  Spain,  in  1702 — Rebellion  in  North  Carolina 
— French  Western  Colonization — Irish  Eastern  Colonization — 
Events  in  New  England,  Maryland,  New  York  and  the  Carolinas 
— French  Enterprise  in  Louisiana  ...  ...  ...  ...  76 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Events  in  New  England  and  in  the  Carolinas — Settlement  of  Georgia — 
Proceedings  in  New  York — French  Enterprise  in  Louisiana — 
Hostilities  in  the  West  between  the  French  and  Spainards — Irish 
Colonization  in  the  early  Part  of  the  Eighteenth  Century  ...  92 

CHAPTER  IX. 

War  between  France  and  England  in  1744 — Peace  of  Aix-la-Chapelle — 
Renewal  of  Hostilities — Early  Adventures  of  George  Washington — 
Arrival  in  America  of  General  Braddock — Expulsion  of  the 
Acadians  from  Nova  Scotia — Defeat  and  Death  of  Braddock  in 
1755 — Formal  Declaration  of  War  between  France  and  England 
in  175b — English  Reverses  and  Failures — Vigorous  Measures  taken 
by  William  Pitt,  and  Armaments  assembled  for  Prosecution  of  the 
Contest — Expeditions  against  Canada — The  Taking  of  Quebec  in 
1759 — Conquest  of  Canada — The  Treaty  of  Paris — Cession  of 
Louisiana  to  Spain  by  France — Revolt  of  the  Indian  Chief  Pontiac 
and  his  Death  ...  ...  •••  •••  •••  •••  HO 


CHAPTER  X. 

State  of  the  Colonies  after  the  Seven  Years’  War — French  in  the  Western 
Territories — Irish  Colonists  during  the  Reign  of  George  III. — 
Taxation  of  the  Colonies — Resistance — Repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act — 
Renewal  of  the  Taxation  and  Disturbances  in  the  Colonies — 
Excisable  Tea  thrown  into  the  Harbour  of  Boston — Retaliation — 
Assembling  and  Proceedings  of  the  First  or  Old  Revolutionary 
Congress  ... 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Precautions  taken  by  General  Gage — The  Loyalists — Proceedings  in 
England — Breaking  out  of  the  War  at  Lexington — Spread  of  the 
Revolt — Proceedings  of  the  Second  Continental  Congress — First 


CONTENTS. 


xiii 


Success  of  the  Patriots— George  Washington  appointed  Ccm- 
inand“T-in-Chief  of  the  American  Forces — Battle  at  Bunker  Hill — 
Organization  of  the  American  Army — Progress  of  the  Insurrec¬ 
tion — Expedition  against  the  English  in  Canada  under  Command 
of  Brigadier- General  Richard  Montgomery — First  Success — Assault 
on  Quebec — Montgomery’s  Defeat  and  heroic  Death  ...  ...  154 


CHAPTER  XII. 

The  Siege  of  Quebec — Contests  in  the  South — Preparations  in  England 
to  crush  the  Rebellion — The  Siege  and  Taking  of  Boston — Arrival 
of  British  Troops  and  Fora'gn  Auxiliaries — Retreat  from  Quebec 
— The  British  Attempt  upon  New  York  foiled,  and  subsequent 
Failure  at  Charleston — Congress  organizes  a  Navy — Agitation  and 
Debates  before  the  Declaration  of  Independence — Names  of  the 
Signers  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  182 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


IH 

_  i 

(EjZ-flj-I 


Invasion  of  New  York  by  Genera,  and  Admiral  Howe — Battle  of  Long 
Island — American  Evacuation  of  New  York — Futile  Attempt  to 
establish  Peace — Engagements  in  New  York — Operations  in  the 
North — Taking  of  Fort  Washington' — The  American  Army  retreats 
into  New  Jersey — Its  weakened  Condition — The  Battles  of  Trenton 
and  Princetown — The  Americans  recover  Ground  in  New  Jersey  203 

CHAPTER  XIY. 

Distinguished  Volunteers  arrive  from  Europe — Congressional  Commis¬ 
sioners  sent  to  France — •Ex-Governor  Tryon’s  Expedition — 
English  Plan  of  Campaign — General  Burgoyne  advances  towards 
New  York  from  Canada — The  Battle  of  Bennington — Defeat  and 
♦Surrender  of  Burgoyne’s  Army — General  Howe’s  Expedition — 

Battle  of  Brandywine — Capture  of  Philadelphia — Battle  of 
Germanstown — The  Americans  Winter  at  Valley  Forge — The 
Conway  Cabal  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  220 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Financial  and  physical  Difficulties  of  the  United  States  Government — 
Alliance  with  and  Aid  from  France — Overtures  of  Peace  from 
England — Evacuation  of  Philadelphia  by  the  British — Battle  of 
Monmouth — Surprise  at  Wyoming — Arrival  of  Admiral  d’Estaing 
— Combination  to  attack  New  York — Expedition  against  Rhode 
Island — Its  Failure — Congress  adopts  Articles  of  Confederation — 
British  Expedition  against  the  'Southern  States  ...  ...  238 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Re-organisation  of  Washington’s  Army — War  in  the  South — General 
Tryon’s  Descent  on  Long  Island — Attack  on  Charleston — Capture 
of  Granada  by  the  French — Indian  Hostilities  on  the  Western 
Frontiers — Naval  Exploits  of  Paul  Jones — Military  Operations  in 
the  North — Attack  on  Savannah — Defeat  of  the  French  and 
Americans  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  250 


CONTENTS. 


xiv 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Page 

Position  of  General  Washington  at  the  Opening  of  1780— Siege  and 
Capture  ot  Charleston  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton— Financial  Uepres- 
sion — General  Gates  in  the  South — Partisan  Chiefs  and  their 
Raids — Brutality  of  Lord  Cornwallis— American  Victory  at  King  s 
Mountain— Treason  of  General  Arnold— Mutiny  in  the  American 
Army  ...  —  •••  •••  •••  •••  ••• 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

The  Action  of  Lafayette  in  Franco— Arnold’s  Invasion  of  Virginia— 
Operations  of  General  Green  and  of  Lord  Cornwallis  in  the 
South — Battle  of  the  Cowpens — Subsequent  Manoeuvres — Battle  of 
Gilford  Court-House— Various  Encounters — Battle  of  Eutaw 
Springs — Lord  Cornwallis  marches  to  Virginia — French  and 
American  Combinations — Investment  of  Yorktown — Siege— Sur¬ 
render  of  Lord  Cornwallis  and  of  his  whole  Army — Reception  of 
the  News  in  England  and  Ireland  ...  ...  •••  ••• 

CHAPTER  XIX. 


Change  of  Ministry,  and  Overtures  of  Peace  from  England  accepted  by 
the  Americans — Independence  of  Parliament  obtained  for  Ireland, 
and  Trade  with  the  United  States  inaugurated — Peace  proclaimed 
and  Recognition  of  American  Independence  by  the  different 
European  Powers — Evacuation  of  New  York  by  the  English,  and 
Disbanding  of  the  American  Army — Formation  of  the  United 
States  Constitution — Washington  elected  First  President — His 
Guildford  Court-House — Various  Encounters — Battle  of  Eutaw 
Administration  and  Policy — Indian  Troubles  on  the  Frontiers — 
Second  Term  of  Washington’s  Administration — Wayne’s  Victories 
over  the  Indians — Retirement  of  Washington  to  private  Life  and 
Election  of  John  Adams  as  Second  President — Differences  of  the 
United  States  with  other  Powers — Death  of  Washington  ...  281 

CHAPTER  XX. 

The  Seat  of  Government  transferred  to  Washington — Election  of  Thomas 
Jefferson  as  President — Treaty  between  France  and  the  United 
States — Cession  of  Louisiana — War  waged  against  the  States  of 
Barbary — Re-election  of  Jefferson  as  President — Aaron  Burr’s  Con¬ 
spiracy — Peace  proclaimed  between  the  United  States  and  Tripoli 
— Injuries  inflicted  on  American  Commerce  by  France  and  Eng¬ 
land — Outrage  on  the  Ship  of  War  Chesapeake — Public  Excite¬ 
ment  against  England — Failure  of  Negotiations  to  effect  Peace — 

Indian  Troubles  in  the  North-West — Subsequent  Events  ...  299 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

War  declared  against  England — First  Invasion  of  Canada — Naval  En¬ 
gagements — American  Preparations  for  another  Invasion  of 
Canada — Operations  under  General  Harrison — English  Fleet  off 
the  Eastern  Coasts  of  the  United  States — Engagements  in  Canada 
— Commodore  Perry’s  Victory  on  Lake  Erie — General  Jackson’s 
Victories  over  the  Southern  Indians — Failure  of  Genearl  Wilkin¬ 
son’s  Expedition  against  Montreal  ...  ...  ...  ...  509 


CONTENTS.  xv 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Page 

Discontent  of  the  Peace  Party  at  the  Continuation  of  the  War — Renewal 
of  the  Canadian  Invasion — Operations  under  General  Brown — 
Battles  at  Plattsburg  and  on  Lake  Champlain — Propositions  for 
a  Peace — Campaign  in  the  South — Great  Victory  of  General  Jack- 
son  at  New  Orleans — Treaty  for  Peace  ratified — Commodore 
Stewart’s  brilliant  Victory  at  Sea,  and  closing  of  the  War  ...  324 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

War  with  Algiers — Progress  of  the  United  States — James  Monroe  elected 
President — General  Jackson’s  Invasion  of  Florida  and  its  Acquisi¬ 
tion  by  the  United  States — Contest  about  the  Admission  of  Mis¬ 
souri  into  the  Union — Visit  of  La  Fayette — John  Quincy  Adams 
elected  President — Rise  of  the  Anti- Masonic  Party — General 
Andrew  Jackson  elected  President — Indian  Disturbances— John 
C.  Calhoun  raises  the  Question  of  State  Rights — Nullification 
announced  in  South  Carolina — The  President’s  Proclamation  and 
its  Effects  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  338 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

election  of  General  Jackson  to  the  Presidency — He  refuses  a  Charter 
to  the  United  States  Bank — Revolt  of  Texas  from  Mexico — Elec¬ 
tion  of  Martin  Van  Buren  as  President — General  Harrison  succeeds 
as  President — On  his  Decease,  John  Tyler,  the  Vice-President 
assumes  that  Office — Disputes  with  Great  Britain  in  Reference  to 
the  Boundaries  of  Maine  and  Oregon — James  Knox  Polk  inau¬ 
gurated  President — War  with  Mexico— Victories  of  General 
Zachary  Taylor — Operations  of  General  Scott— Success  of  Geneial 
Kearney  in  New  Mexico  and  California — Battles  of  Cherubusco. 
Molinos  Del  Rey,  Chepultapec,  and  Sierra  Gordo — Triumphant 
entry  of  General  Scott  into  the  City  of  Mexico — The  Mormon 
and  Western  Migrations  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  347 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

Peace  with  Mexico — General  Zachary  Taylor  elected  President — His 
Death — The  Succession  devolves  on  Millard  Filmore,  Vice- 
President —Irish  Emigration  to  the  United  States —Franklin  Pierce 
becomes  President — The  Native  American  Party — Agitation  on  the 

y  Subject  of  Slavery  in  the  Free  and  Slave  States — James  Buchan- 
nan’s  Presidency — Raid  of  John  Brown  in  "Virginia — Contests 
in  Kansas  between  the  Slavery  and  Anti- Slavery  Parties — 
Abraham  Lincoln  elected  President — The  South  declares  for  Seces¬ 
sion  from  the  United  States — Formation  of  the  Southern  Con¬ 
federacy — Seizure  of  the  Arsenals,  Magazines  and  Forts  of  the 
Union — Proclamation  of  President  Lincoln — Volunteering — The 
Irish  Brigade  formed  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  361 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Opening  of  the  Rebellion  in  Missouri — The  Confederate  Constitution — - 
Maryland — West  Virginia — General  Beauregard  placed  over  the 
Confederate  Army  in  Virginia — Provision  made  by  Congress  to 
carry  on  the  War — The  Confederates  establish  their  Seat  of 
Government  at  Richmond — General  McDowell  commanding  the 


s.vi 


CONTENTS. 


Page 

United  States  Troops  advances  to  meet  the  Confederates — Battle 
of  Bull  Run — Defeat  of  the  Fedei'als — Reverses  of  the  Federals  in 
Missouri- — Measures  taken  by  Congress — Troubles  in  Kentucky — 
General  Thomas  West  Sherman  obtains  a  Victory  over  the  Con¬ 
federates  in  South  Carolina — General  Scott,  Commander-in-Ckief 
of  the  United  States  Army,  resigns — Jefferson  Davis  elected 
President  over  the  South — Action  of  Napoleon  III.  and  of  Lord 
Palmerston — Seizure  of  Messrs.  Mason  and  Slidell — Preparations 
for  War  in  the  Northern  and  Southern  States  ...  ...  375 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

The  United  States  Government  prepares  for  the  coming  Campaign— In 
January  1862  General  Burnside  conducts  an  Expedition  to  Albe¬ 
marle  Sound — Major-General  Halleck  and  General  Buell  appointed 
to  direct  Military  Operations  in  the  West — Victorious  Campaign 
in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee — Generals  Price  and  M‘Culloch  driven 
out  of  Missouri — Engagement  between  the  Ironclads,  Monitor  and 
Merrimac — Preparations  for  an  Advance  of  General  McClellan 
against  Richmond — The  Shenandoah  Valley — A  new  plan  of 
Operations  designed  by  General  McClellan — The  Confederate  con¬ 
scription  Act — Movements  of  General  Grant  in  the  West — Battle 
of  Shiloh  or  Pittsburg  Landing— Expedition  against  New  Orleans 
— Capture  of  Memphis  by  the  Federals  ...  ...  ...  38S 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Preparations  for  the  Attack  on  Richmond — Defences  prepared  by  the 
Confederates — General  Wool  takes  Possession  of  Norfolk— Federal 
Approach— The  Chickahominy  River — The  Battle  of  Seven  Pines 
— Seven  continuous  Engagements  around  Richmond— Federals 
retreat  to  the  James  River— Battle  of  Malvern  Hill  ...  ...  407 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Exhaustion  of  both  Armies  after  the  Seven  Days’  Battle — McClellan 
urges  another  Advance  against  Richmond — He  is  superseded  as 
Commander-in-Chief  by  General  Henry  W.  Halleck — General  John 
Pope  appointed  to  command  the  Army  of  Virginia — McClellan’s 
Troops  recalled  from  the  Peninsula — Advance  of  the  Confederates 
against  Washington— Pope’s  Campaign — He  resigns  and  McClellan 
succeeds  in  Command — Campaign  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee — 
Operations  in  Arkansas  and  Missouri — Beauregard’s  Defences 
around  Charleston  ...  ...  ...  ...  420 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

Progress  of  Negro  Emancipation — Internal  and  external  Condition  of 
Affairs  relative  to  the  United  States — Advance  of  General  Lee 
into  Maryland — Battles  of  South  Mountain  and  of  Antietam — 
Retreat  of  Lee — General  Banks  succeeds  General  Butler  at  New 
Orleans — Confederate  Invasion  of  Missouri — Secretaries  Seward 
and  Chase — Battle  of  Murfreesboro  in  Tennessee — General 
M‘Clellan  removed  from  Command — General  Burnside  succeeds — 
Conditions  existing  in  Northern  and  Southern  States — Defeat  at 
Fredericksburg — Failure  of  the  Federal  Attack  on  Vicksburg — 
Confederates  capture  Galveston  in  Texas  ...  ...  ...  436 


1 


CONTENTS.  xvii 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Page 

Negro  Emancipation — Confederate  Government — General  Hooker  suc¬ 
ceeds  General  Burnside  in  Command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
— Federal  Conscription  Bdl — Factious  Proceedings  in  Ohio — 
Treasonable  (Societies — Siege  of  Charleston — The  Battle  of  Chancel¬ 
lors  voile — General  Banks  in  Louisiana — Admission  of  West  Vir¬ 
ginia  into  the  United  States  ...  ...  ...  ...  463 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 


Diplomatic  Relations  of  France  and  England  with  the  United  States — 
Preparations  for  the  Siege  of  Vicksburg — Battle  at  Champion 
Hill  —  Opening  of  the  Siege  at  Vicksburg — Efforts  of  the  Con¬ 
federates  West  of  the  Mississippi  River — Their  Oefeat  at  Helena 
— Surrender  of  Vicksburg — Siege  and  Reduction  of  Port  Hudson 
— The  French  in  Mexico — Confederate  Privateers  built  m  English 
Ports 


476 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

Invasion  of  Maryland  and  of  Pennsylvania  by  General  Lee — Resignation 
of  General  Hooker — Succeeded  by  General  Meade — Battles  at 
Gettysburg — Retreat  of  the  Confederates — Embassy  of  Alexander 
H.  Stephens — Conscription  Riots — Closing  of  the  Eastern 

Campaign  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  492 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

Siege  of  Charleston — General  Taylor  in  the  South— General  Rosecrans’ 
Advance  on  Chattanooga — The  Battle  of  Chiekamauga — General 
Grant  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the  new  Military  Division  of 
the  Mississippi — The  Battle  of  Missionary  Ridge— The  Siege  of 
Knoxville  raised — General  Bragg  removed  from  Command,  and 
General  Johnston  appointed  to  succeed  him — Movement  of  General 
Lee  on  Mannassas — Suspension  of  the  Eastern  Campaign  at  the 
Close  of  the  Year — Tlie  President’s  Animal  Message  and  Re¬ 
construction  of  the  Revolted  States  ...  ...  511 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

Movements  of  General  William  Teeumseh  Sherman  in  the  West — Re- 
conniasance  of  Mobile  by  Admiral  Farragut — General  Ulysses  S. 

Grant  appointed  Lieutenant-General  over  all  the  United  States 
Army — Preparations  for  an  Advance  against  Richmond — Condition 
of  the  Northern  and  Southern  States  at  the  Opening  of  this 
Campaign — Capture  of  Plymouth,  North  Carolina,  by  the  Con¬ 
federates — Movements  of  Grant’s  Army — Battles  of  the  Wilder¬ 
ness — Battle  at  Spottsylvania  Court  House — General  Sheridan’s 
Cavalry  Raid — Fighting  on  the  North  Anna  River — Battle  of 
Cold  Harbour  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  52o 


•  •  • 
xyui 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

Page 

Military  Engagements  in  the  Kanawha  and  Shenandoah  Valleys — Cam¬ 
paign  of  General  Butler  in  Virginia— Cavalry  Expedition  of  General 
Sheridan — A  new  Plan  of  Operations  devised  by  General  Grant — 
Crossing  of  the  James  River — Siege  of  Petersburg — Failure  of  the 
Assault— General  Early’s  Advance  upon  Washington  and  his  Re¬ 
treat — Confederate  Plots  in  the  North-Western  States  *  .  ...  640 

CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

Selection  by  the  Republican  Party  of  Candidates  for  President  and  Vice- 
President — The  Red  River  Expedition — Massacre  at  Fort  Pillow 
— General  Sherman’s  Advance  against  General  Johnston — Retreat 
of  the  latter,  and  Rattle  of  Lost  Mountain — General  Johnston 
superseded  by  Jefferson  Davis,  and  General  Hood  appointed  to 
succeed — Investment  of  Atlanta  by  Sherman’s  Army — Its  Capture 
— Naval  Engagement  between  the  Kearsarge  and  the  Alabama  ...  551 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 


The  United  States  Finances — Operations  of  Major-General  Oanby,  West 
of  the  Mississippi — The  Attack  on  Mobile  by  Sea  and  Land — 
General  Sheridan  appointed  to  an  independent  Command — In¬ 
vasion  of  Missouri  by  General  Price — Raids  of  Forrest  and  Morgan 
— Operations  of  General  Grant’s  Army — General  Sherman  recom¬ 
mends  a  new  Movement — Hood  marches  towards  Nashville — 
Sheridan’s  Campaign  against  Early — Victory  at  Winchester — 

Battle  of  Hatcher’s  Run  ...  ...  ...  ...  —  565 

CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

Party  Selections  of  Candidates  for  the  Presidency  and  Vice-Presidency — 
Confederate  Military  Commands  in  the  West — Purpose  of  General 
Sherman  to  march  through  Georgia  eastwards — Burning  of  Atlanta 
Hood  marches  northwards — Battle  at  Franklin — Victory  of 
General  Thomaa  at  Nashville  —  ...  ...  ...  581. 

CHAPTER  XL. 

Enrolment  of  Coloured  Soldiers — The  Prisoners  of  War — Advance  of 
General  Sherman  upon  Savannah — Surrender  of  the  City — Move¬ 
ments  of  Brevet  Major-General  Grierson  i.i  the  South  West — Ex¬ 
pedition  directed  against  Wilmington — Its  failure— Renewal  of 
the  Attempt  successful  ...  ...  ...  ...  594 

CHAPTER  XLI. 

Amendment  of  the  United  States  Constitution — Decree  of  Universal 
Negro  Emancipation — Directions  of  General  Grant  to  draw  the 
distant  Annies  for  Convergence  towards  Richmond — Capture  of 
Mobile — Sherman’s  Army  moves  northwards — General  Lee  ap- 

Eointed  Confederate  Generalissimo — Movements  of  Sheridan — 
econd  Inauguration  of  President  Lincoln — Movements  of  Stone- 
man — Conference  between  Generals  Grant  and  Sherman — Com¬ 
bined  Assaults  around  Petersburg — Its  Capture  ...  •••  601 


CONTENTS. 


XIX 


CHAPTER  XLII. 


Evacuation  of  Petersburg  and  Richmond— Pursuit  of  Lee’s  Army  by 
Genera!  Grant— Battle  of  Farmvffle— Negotiations  for  Surrender  of 
Lees  Army— Negotiations  for  Surrender  of  Johnston’s  Army- 
Successful  Operations  of  Brevet  Major-General  James  H.  Wilson 
m  the  South-west— Various  Contingents  of  Confederates  in  the 
South  lay  down  their  Arms— End  of  the  War. 


Page 


612 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 

Assassination  of  President  Lincoln— Fate  of  the  Conspirators— Capture 

of  Jefferson  Davis— His  Imprisonment  and  subsequent  Release _ 

Re-construction  of  the  Southern  States— The  United  States  de¬ 
mand  the  French  Evacuation  of  Mexico — Demands  on  the  English 
Government  for  Compensation — Purchase  of  the  North-Western 
Territory  of  Alaska*  from  Russia — Indian  Disturbances  beyond  the 
Mississippi  .. 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 


General  Ulysses  S.  Grant  elected  President — Settlement  of  the  Alabama 
Claims — Re-election  of  President  Grant — Foreign  and  Domestic 
Affairs — Centenary  of  American  Independence — Rutherford  B. 

Hayes  elected  President — Financial  Equilibrium  restored — James 
A.  Garfield  elected  President — His  Assassination — Chester  A. 
Arthur  succeeds — Election  of  Grover  Cleveland  as  President  in 
1884 — Benjamin  Harrison  elected  President  in  1888— Second  Elec¬ 
tion  of  Grover  Cleveland  as  President  in  1892 — The  Great 
Columbian  Exposition  in  Chicago — Subsequent  Events  ...  ...  633 


CHAPTER  XLV. 


Republican  Gains  in  the  November  Elections  of  1894 — The  Venezuelan 
Boundary  Question — Insurrection  in  Cuba — William  McKinley 
elected  President  in  1896 — His  Cabinet  and  the  State  of  Parties — 
Declaration  of  War  against  Spain — Commodore  Dewey  destroys 
the  Spanish  Fleet  in  the  Philippine  Islands — Blockade  of  its 
northern  Ports  and  Invasion  of  Cuba — Conquest  of  the  Island, 

Porto  Rico  and  Manilla — Peace  concluded  between  Spain  and  the 
United  States — The  President’s  Message  ...  ...  ...  646 


CHAPTER  XLVI. 

State  of  Parties  at  the  Opening  of  Congress  in  1899 — Treaty  of  Peace  with 
Spain  ratified  by  the  United  States  Senate — The  Venezuelan  Arbi¬ 
trators’  Award — Temporary  and  Provisional  Boundary  Line  between 
Alaska  and  Canada — The  Island  of  Tutuila  and  other  Islauds  of  the 
Samoan  Group  ceded  to  the  United  States — The  President’s  Message 
— Death  of  Vice-President  Hobart — Regulations  for  Cuba  and  the 
Philippine  Islands — Revocation  of  the  Clayton-Bulwer  Treaty  by  the 
Senate — Pacific  Proposals  of  the  United  States  Government  for 
Peace  between  Great  Britain  and  the  Boer  Republics  rejected  by  the 
English  Ministry — McKinley’s  re-election  as  President,  and  subse¬ 
quent  Message  on  December  4th,  1900 — The  Nicaragua  Canal — Cap 
ture  of  Aguinaldo — Submission  of  the  Philippine  Chiefs — President 
M‘Kinley’s  Assassination — Theodore  Roosevelt  succeeds  as  President 
— His  Inaugural  Message — Conclusion  ...  ...  ...  ...  662 


APPENDIX. 


No.  1. — Colonial  Delegates’  Address  to  the  Irish  People,  issued  on 
the  10th  of  May,  1775,  and  engrossed  on  the  28th  July,  1775 

No.  2. — Declaration  of  Independence,  proclaimed  July  4th,  1776 

No.  3 — Constitution  of  the  United  States 

No.  4. — Congressional  Resolution  of  December  29th,  1780  ... 

No.  5. — Presidents  of  the  Continental  Congress  and  of  the  Congress  of 
the  Confederation,  1775-1788 

No.  6. — Presidents,  Vice-Presidents,  and  Cabinet  Officers  from  the 
adoption  of  the  Constitution  to  the  present  Time 

No.  7. — The  Twelfth  Census  of  the  United  States  ... 

No,  8 — Area  of  each  State  and  Territory  in  the  United  States,  Date 
of  Organization  of  Territories,  and  of  Admission  of  New  States 
into  the  Union  ...  ...  ...  ...  .„ 


Index 


•  ••  Mt 


•  9  » 


Page 

i 

▼ 

viii 

xx 

xx 

xx 

xx  vi 

xxviii 

xxxi 


PORTRAITS 


Theodore  Roosevelt,  Twenty-Fifth  President,  U.S.,  Frontispiece. 

PAGE 

Christopher  Columbus,  Discoverer  of  America, 

John  Smith,  Founder  of  Virginia, 

Lord  Baltimore,  Founder  of  Maryland, 

William  Penn,  Founder  of  Pennsylvania  ...  ...  ....  16 


George  Washington,  First  President  of  the  United  States, 

Benjamin  Franklin,  U.S.  Ambassador  to  France, 

Richard  Montgomery,  Brigadier-General  U.S.  Army, 

John  Sullivan,  Major-General  U.S.  Army  ...  ...  ...  112 


Thaddeus  Kosciusko,  Colonel  of  Engineers  in  the  Continental 
Army, 

Marie-Jean-Paul-Roch-Yves  Gilbert  Motier,  Marquis  de 
Lafayette,  Major-General  U.S.  Army, 

George  Clinton,  Governor  of  New  York, 

Nathaniel  Green,  Major-General  U.S.  Army  ...  ...  ...  224 

Daniel  Morgan,  Major-General  U.S.  Army, 

Alexander  Hamilton,  Secretary  to  the  U.S.  Treasury, 

John  Adams,  Second  President  of  the  U.S., 

Thomas  Jefferson,  Third  President  of  the  U.S.  ...  ...  272 

James  Madison,  Fourth  President  of  the  U.S., 

James  Monroe,  Fifth  President  of  the  U.S., 

John  Quincy  Adams,  Sixth  President  of  the  U.S.,  * 

Andrew  Jackson,  Seventh  President  of  the  U.S.  ...  ...  308 


John  C.  Calhoun,  Vice-President  of  the  U.S., 

Henry  Clay,  Senator  of  the  U.  S., 

Thomas  MacDonough,  Commodore  of  the  U.S.  Navy, 
Martin  Van  Buren,  Eighth  President  of  the  U.S. 


330 


PORTRAITS. 

William  Henry  Harrison,  Ninth  President  of  the  IT  S., 

Daniel  Webster,  Secretary  of  State, 

John  Tyler,  Tenth  President  of  the  U.S., 

James  Knox  Polk,  Eleventh  President  of  the  U.S.  •  M  ...  352 

i 

Zachary  Taylor,  Twelfth  President  of  the  U.S., 

Millard  Filmore,  Thirteenth  President  of  the  U.S., 

Franklin  Pierce,  Fourteenth  President  of  the  U.S., 

Thomas  H.  Benton,  Senator  of  the  U.S  •••  •  •••  360 


James  Buchanan,  Fifteenth  President  of  the  U.S., 

Abraham  Lincoln,  Sixteenth  President  of  the  U.S., 

Jefferson  Dams,  President  of  the  Confederate  States, 

Robert  Edward  Lee,  Commander-in-Chief  of  Confederate  Army,  368 


Winfield  Scott,  Lieutenant-General  of  U.S.  Army, 

William  Henry  Seward,  Secretary  of  State, 

Benjamin  Franklin  Butler,  Major-General  of  U.S.  Army, 

Michael  Corcoran,  Brigadier-General  of  U.S.  Army  ...  ...  376 


William  Starke  Rosecrans,  Major-General  of  U.S.  Army, 

Winfield  Scott  Hancock,  Major-General  of  U.S.  Army, 

David  Dixon  Porter,  Admiral  of  the  U.S.  Navy, 

Thomas  Francis  Meagher,  Brigadier-General  of  U.S.  Army  ...  416 

Ulysses  S.  Grant,  Eighteenth  President  of  the  U.S., 

George  Gordon  Meade,  Major-General  of  U.S.  Army, 

William  Tecumseh  Sherman,  Major-General  of  U.S.  Army, 

Philip  Henry  Sheridan,  Lieutenant-General  of  U.S.  Army  ...  432 

George  Henry  Thomas,  Major-General  of  U.S.  Army, 

David  Glasgow  Farragut,  Admiral  of  the  U.S.  Navy, 

Daniel  Butterfield,  Major-General  of  U.S.  Army, 

Andrew  Johnson,  Seventeenth  President  of  the  U.S.  ...  ...  488 

Rutherford  B.  Hayes,  Nineteenth  President  of  the  U.S. 

James  A.  Garfield,  Twentieth  President  of  the  U.S., 

Chester  A.  Arthur,  Twenty-first  President  of  the  U.S., 

Henry  Wadsworth  Longfellow,  American  Poet  ...  ...  632 

Grover  Cleveland,  Twenty-second  President  of  the  U.S., 

Benjamin  Harrison,  Twenty-third  President  of  the  U.S., 

William  McKinley,  Twenty -fourth  President  of  the  U.S., 

George  Dewey,  Admiral  of  the  U.S.  Navy  ...  ...  ...  656 


WAR  MAPS. 

- - - 


Attack  on  Fort  Sumter 
Campaign-ground  in  West  Virginia  ... 

Battle-Field  of  Bull’s  Run 

Baltimore  and  Washington  at  Opening  of  the  War 

Openings  of  the  Chesapeake  and  Potomac  Rivers 

Opening  Scenes  of  Grant’s  Campaign  in  Missouri  and  Tennessee 

Naval  Battle  in  Hampton  Roads 

The  Shenandoah  Valley 

Battle-Field  at  Pittsburg  Landing  ... 

Opening  of  the  Mississippi  River 
Scenes  of  Seven  Days’  Battles  around  Richmond 
Battle-Scene  of  Fredericksburg 
Battle-Ground  at  Antietam  or  Sharpsburg  ... 

Battle-Field  of  Murfreesboro’ 

Federal  Operations  around  Vicksburg 

Siege  Operations  at  Vicksburg 

Battle  Field  of  Gettysburg 

Battle  at  Chattanooga 

Siege  of  Charleston 

Battles  of  the  Wilderness  ... 

Siege  of  Petersburg 

Sherman’s  March  through  Georgia 

Defences  of  Petersburg 

Scene  of  General  Lee’s  Surrender 


372 

372 

380 

380 

388 

388 

394 

394 

402 

402 

410 

410 

446 

446 

482 

482 

496 

496 

512 

512 

546 

546 

612 

612 


IRISH  -  AMERICAN 


HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Early  Irish  Traditions  regarding  Hy-Breasail  or  a  Great  Western  Ireland — 
Scandinavian  Traditions — 1  he  Voyages  of  Saints  Barind,  Mernoc  and  Brendan 
to  the  Promised  Lard— Voyages  of  Saints  Cormac  LTn  Liathain  ana  Baithen 
—Probability  of  an  Irish  Chri-tian  Settlement  on  the  Great  Western  Conti¬ 
ngent— Northman  Voyages  and  Colonization— Extended  Fame  of  St.  Brendan’s 
Voyage  in  Europe  and  in  Asia. 

The  Pagan  Irish  had  remote  and  cherished  traditions  regarding  some 
great  magic  Island,  far  away  from  them  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  It 
was  a  land  of  enchantment  for  their  imaginings,  and  in  it  lived  an 
enchanted  race  of  inhabitants.  It  bore  a  variety  of  names,  and  it 
was  associated  in  their  minds  with  vague  mythological  ideas.1 

The  early  Firbolgian  and  Fomorian  colonists  2  of  Ireland — for  the 
most  part  supposed  to  have  been  seafaring  men— are  thought  to  have 
placed  their  Elysium  far  out  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  Sometimes  they 
called  it  Oilean-na-m-Beo  or  Island  of  the  Living,  or  Hy-na-Beatha, 
Island  of  Life.  Again,  it  was  designated  Tir-na-m-Beo  or  Land  of 
the  Living,  or  Tir-na-Nog,  the  Land  of  Youth,  where  Genii  dwelt, 
enjoying  lives  of  perpetual  happiness.  It  had  a  delightful  climate, 
according  to  the  ancient  bards ;  while,  the  heroes  of  Irish  romance 
dwelt  there  in  enchanted  places.  Sometimes  it  is  styled  Tir-na-m- 
Buadha  or  Land  of  Virtues  ;  again,  it  is  poetically  called  the  Land  of 
Heroes  or  the  Land  of  Victories.  Always,  it  is  idealized  as  a  lovely 
region  with  Immortals  inhabiting  it,  and  roaming  through  an  amber- 
lighted  atmosphere,  in  an  Elysium  of  every  imaginable  delight.  It 
was  called  the  Blessed  Realm.3  This  fairy  land  obtained,  likewise, 
the  name  Hy-Breasail  or  the  Island  of  Breasal.  It  was  often  thought 


•  J  Much  of  the  bardic  lore  of  ancient 
Ireland  may  be  found  in  Kcv.  Dr.  JVoftry 
Keating’s  “  History  of  Ireland,”  several 
editions  of  which  have  been  published. 

2  The  “  Leabhar-Gabhala  ”  or  Book 
of  Invasions,  which  gives  the  fullest 
traditional  and  most  ancient  accounts 


of  these  people,  is  yet  in  manuscript, 
and  it  has  not  been  published.  The 
oldest  copy  extant  seems  to  be  that  de¬ 
scribed  by  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  O’Conor, 
in  the  Stowe  Catalogue. 

3  Reminding  us  of  the  M aicapoji'  Nqtrot, 
or  Happy  Islands  of  the  Greeks. 


1RISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  TIIE  UNITED  STATES. 


to  have  been  seen  through  the  mist  of  ocean,  from  the  mountain  tops 
of  Western  Munster,  Connaught  and  Ulster.  “  The  Great  Land  ”  was 
a  term  applied  to  it,  in  the  Irish  bardic  poems  and  stories — many  of 
these  yet  untranslated  and  unpublished ;  while  still  around  the 
southern,  western  and  northern  coasts  of  Ireland,  various  fireside 
traditions  are  told  by  the  peasants  regarding  Hy-Breasail,  as  also  re¬ 
lating  to  the  Firbolgs,  Fomorians  and  Tuatha-de-Danaans 4 — these 
fierce  warriors  of  old,  who  have  yet  a  fabled  existence  in  the  fairy  or 
spirit-land  of  the  Immortals.  Hy-Breasail  now  dissolves,  as  a  popular 
theme  or  vision ;  yet,  through  its  mists,  a  more  distant  region  repro¬ 
duces  the  spell  of  an  Irishman’s  enchantment.5 

Nor  were  such  notions  confined  to  Ireland  alone,  for  similar 
superstitions  had  spread  among  other  people  of  the  Old  World.  For 
nearly  four  hundred  years  before  the  Birth  of  Christ,  the  ancients  held 
a  belief  regarding  a  lost  island  called  Atlantis  or  Atalantis,  said  to 
have  been  greater  than  all  Lybia  and  Asia  together,  lying  out  in  that 
ocean  to  which  it  probably  gave  name.  It  is  alluded  to  in  the  Timceus 
Dialogue  of  Plato.6  The  descriptions  given  of  its  situation  are  vague 
and  indefinite,  and  are  thought  to  have  been  derived  from  ships  and 
mariners  that  had  ventured  out  into  the  great  Western  Ocean.  The 
Carthagenians  are  reported  to  have  established  colonies  in  and  visited 
frequently  an  island,  far  distant  from  the  Pillars  of  Hercules.7  Dio¬ 
dorus  Siculus  mentions  a  western  island  of  great  extent,  as  also  of 
surpassing  beauty  and  fertility,  far  away  from  Lybia.8  The  recollection 
of  this  fabled  land  seems  to  have  been  forgotten  in  a  measure,  during 
the  Middle  Ages,  as  few  writers  have  reference  to  it  under  the  original 
name.  However,  islands  and  curious  legends  connected  with  them 
were  still  reported  to  have  been  in  the  remote  waters  of  the  Atlantic.9 
How  far  the  aboriginal  myths  of  Ireland  had  influenced  maritime 
enterprise  in  Christian  times  is  unknown  ;  but  it  is  possible,  the  Greek 
and  Latin  accounts  of  discovery  had  been  read  in  the  schools,  and  that 


4  Their  ancestors’  huge  cahirs  of  stone, 
vet  remaining  on  the  Arran  group  of 
Islands  and  on  various  hill-sides  of  the 
mainland,  are  most  certainly  calculated 
to  excite  exalted  notions  of  strength, 
size  and  prowess,  while  those  heroes 
dwelt  on  earth.  Still,  they  are  popu¬ 
larly  supposed  to  be  suffering  no  decay, 
in  the  land  of  perpetual  youth. 

5  See  “  Irish  Folk  Lore,”  by  “Lagen- 
iensis,  ”  chap.  xv.  and  chap,  xxxii.  where 
further  cognate  legends  are  set  forth. 

6  He  was  born  about  429  B.c.,  and 
died  348  b.c.  The  tradition  held,  that 
Atlantis  was  in  the  ocean  opposite  to 
the  Straits  of  Gibraltar.  There  was  an 
easy  passage  to  it  from  other  islands, 
which  were  adjacent  to  a  large  conti¬ 
nent.  In  course  of  time,  a  great  earth¬ 


quake  engulfed  it  and  the  inhabitants 
in  the  bottom  of  the  sea. 

7  See  Aristotle,  Liber  de  Mirabilibus 
Ph3rsicae  Ascultationis,  cap.  lxxxiv. 
This  writer  was  born  at  Stagyra  in 
Macedonia,  b.c.  384,  and  he  died  b.c. 
322. 

8  See  Hist.  Lib.  v.,  sect.  19.  This 
writer  flourished  in  the  time  of  Julius 
Caesar  and  Augustus. 

9  To  have  a  very  full  understanding 
of  the  early  geographical  knowledge 
and  descriptions  regarding  the  great 
Western  Continent,  the  reader  is  re¬ 
ferred  to  vol.  i.  of  the  invaluable  and 
scholarly  compilation,  ‘‘Narrative  and 
Critical  History  of  America,”  in  eight 
roy.  8vo  vols.,  edited  by  Justin  Winsor. 
London,  1889. 


SCANDINAVIAN  TRADITIONS.  3 

both  sources  for  information  were  availed  of  to  form  vague  con¬ 
ceptions  of  a  land  of  Promise  or  a  Terrestrial  Paradise,  which  still 
remained  unexplored,  and  which  was  destined  as  a  future  dwelling  for 
the  Saints. 

It  is  remarkable,  likewise,  that  the  Pagans  of  Iceland  believed  in 
a  seat  of  the  Immortals,  where  the  sick  should  be  restored  to  health, 
and  where  the  old  should  again  grow  young.10  Frequent  intercourse 
took  place  in  very  remote  times  between  Ireland  and  Iceland."  So  far 
as  historic  accounts  throw  light  on  such  transactions,  the  Irish  seem  to 
have  been  #  the  pioneers  of  maritime  enterprise,  antecedent  to  the 
Scandinavian  development  of  shipbuilding  and  of  sea-roving.  Long 
before  the  Northman  colonization  of  Iceland,  a.d.  874, 12  the  Irish,  for 
the  sake  of  its  productive  fisheries,  had  reached  its  distant  shores.13 
With  still  nobler  aspirations  to  guide  them,  Irish  hermits  had  settled 
there,  when  probably  it  was  devoid  of  inhabitants  ;  14  and  the  Christian 
religion  was  found  to  be  established,  when  Gardar  the  Dane,  and  of 
Swedish  origin,  was  the  first  Northman  who  discovered  Iceland  in 
863, 15  and  when  the  Norwegian  Ingolf  began  the  colonization  of  that 
country  in  8 74.' 6 

The  people  of  Iceland  and  the  Northern  races  of  Europe  have  for 
many  remote  ages  preserved  national  documents,  in  which  there  are 
very  curious  narratives  of  discoveries  and  of  navigations  relating  to 
America,  long  antecedent  to  the  times  of  Christopher  Columbus.17  In 
those  ancient  chronicles,  reference  is  often  made  to  Ireland  and 
Irishmen,  in  various  pages,  and  in  relation  to  American  maritime 
adventures.  Those  Sagas  have  recorded  various  wonderful  stories 
regarding  an  extensive  Western  Continent,  and  daring  efforts  of  their 
hardy  seamen  to  reach  it.  Even  ancient  Scandinavian  records  have 


10  See  the  “  Hervarar  Saga  ok  Heid- 
rekskongs”  or  the  History  of  Hervora 
and  of  King  Heidker,  drawn  from  the 
manuscripts  of  the  Legate  Arna-Mag- 
nsean,  and  edited  by  the  Icelandic 
Stephanus  Biornon,  cap.  i.,  pp.  2  to  5  ; 
Hafn,  1785,  4to. 

11  Some  ancient  accounts  assure 
us,  that  Iceland  had  been  inhabited 
so  early  as  the  fifth  century.  See 
Playfair’s  “Geography,”  vol.  iii.,  p. 
144. 

12  See  David  Crantz’s  “History  of 
Greenland  :  containing  a  Description  of 
the  Country  and  its  Inhabitants,”  &c., 
vol.  i.,  book  iv.,  chap,  i.,  sect,  ii.,  pp. 
242,  24.3.  Translated  from  the  High 
Dutch,  London,  1767,  8vo. 

13  This  may  be  found  in  Peyrere, 
“Relation  de  l’lslande,”  a  Mons.  de  la 
Mothe  le  Vayer,  sect,  xliii. 

14  The  origin  of  Christianity  in  Ice¬ 
land  is  set  forth,  in  the  “Icelands 


Landnamabok  ”  or  Book  of  Iceland’s 
Origin,  part  i.,  cap.  xiv..  xv.,  xvi. 

.  16  According  to  the  translated  work 
of  Professor  Rudolph  Keyser,  “  Nord- 
maendenes  Religionsforfatning  i  Heden- 
dommen  ”  or  the  Religion  of  the  North¬ 
men,  by  Barclay  Pennock.  See  Intro¬ 
ductory  Chapters  by  the  Translator, cap. 
iii.,  pp.  77,  78.  New  York,  1854,  8vo. 

16  See  Arngrym  Jonas’  “Hystoria 
Islandise,”  and  Ara  Multiseius’  “Schedae 
de  Islandia,”  cap.  ii. 

17  Readers  who  are  inquisitive  will 
consult  “  Antiquitates  Americanae  sive 
Scriptores  Septentrionales  Rerum 
Ante-Columbianarum  in  America.” 
This  work  has  been  ably  edited  by 
C.  C.  Rafn,  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Society  of  Northern  Antiquaries.  The 
documents  are  found  in  the  Latin, 
Danish  and  Icelandic  tongues,  with 
plates  and  maps  included.  It  was  pub¬ 
lished  at  Ilafn,  a.d.  1837,  in  royal  4to. 


4 


IRISH -AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


applied  the  name  “  Great  Ireland  ”  18  to  a  distant  Western  Continent, 
which  Columbus  had  not  yet  discovered. 

Not  many  generations  had  seen  the  light,  after  the  first  introduc¬ 
tion  of  Christianity  into  Erin,  when  the  adventurous  and  saintly  men 
Barind  or  Barinthus  and  Mernoc,19  whether  by  accident  or  with  a  set 
purpose  of  discovery  in  view,  reached  the  distant  shores  of  the  Land  of 
Promise — the  earliest  Irish  and  Christian  designation  of  America. 
They  were  enabled  to  return  once  more  to  the  island  from  which 
they  had  sailed,  about  the  commencement  of  the  sixth  century.  Won¬ 
derful  were  the  rumours  spread  abroad,  and  the  narratives  of  those 
navigators  filled  the  minds  of  others  with  restless  desires,  to  witness 
scenes  so  graphically  described,  and  yet  so  vaguely  portrayed.20  Among 
the  many  who  sought  information  from  the  voyagers  was  one  having 
manly  courage  and  tenacity  of  will  to  second  a  lively  imagination  and 
an  enterprising  genius.  Holy  Brendan,  in  all  our  hagiological 
references  called  “The  Navigator,”  formed  a  pious  resolution  to  seek  this 
distant  land,  there  to  spread  the  light  of  Christianity.21  He  sailed  from 
the  coast  of  Kerry,  with  a  crew  of  sixty  religious  men,  in  quest  of  the 
unknown  We.- tern  Continent. 

It  is  probable  this  adventurous  mariner  took  his  departure  for  the 
Land  of  Promise,  from  near  that  majestic  headland,  and  from  out  that 
bay,  now  bearing  his  name.  Both  lie  about  seven  miles  northwards 
from  Dingle,22  Theue  is  no  mountain  throughout  that  region  of  country 


18  See  C.  C-  Rain's  “  Antiquites 
Americaines  d’apres  les  Monuments 
historiques  des  Iriandais  et  des  anciens 
Scandinaves.”  Kopenhagen,  a.d.  1845, 
in  8vo.  See  Jean  George  Theodore 
Graesse’s  “  Tresor  de  Livers  Rares  et 
Precieux  ou  Nouveau  Dictionnaire 
Bibliographique,”  Tome  i.,  p.  149. 

19  See  Father  John  Colgan’s  “  Acta 
Sanctorum  Hiberniag,”  xxii.  Martii. 
De  Egressione  Families  S.  Brendani, 
pp.  721  to  725.  A  French  writer, 
Louis  Tachet  de  Barneval  has  recorded 
the  story  of  Barind's  voyage  to  the 
Land  of  Promise,  and  the  account 
received  from  his  lips  of  those  strange 
adventures  that  befell  the  wanderers 
until  land  appeared. 

20  This  great  and  distant  land  God 
had  promised  to  give  His  saints,  as  it 
was  rumoured,  and  at  some  future  time. 

21  It  seems  strange,  that  only  a  slight 
allusion  is  made  to  the  voyage  of  St. 
Brendan,  and  in  reference  to  the  early 
discoverers  of  America,  in  the  work  of 
R.  H.  Major,  F.S.A.,  which  was  edited 
for  the  Hak-luyt  Society.  This  notice 
is  only  found  in  the  Introduction,  at  p. 
xxvi. ;  and  it  is  prefixed  to  “  Select 


Letters  of  Chiistopher  Columbus,  with 
other  original  Documents,  relating  to 
his  four  Voyages  to  the  New  World,” 
published  at  London,  1870,  8vo,  second 
edition. 

22  St.  Brendan’s  Mountain  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  highest  in  Kerry  county, 
it  being  little  inferior  in  altitude  to  the 
Reeks  of  Mangerton  at  Killarney. 
When  the  tops  of  other  mountains  are 
clear  from  clouds  and  mists,  that  moun¬ 
tain  is  frequently  covered  with  them. 
Its  exposed  situation  over  the  Atlantic 
Ocean  occasions  the  interception  of 
vapours  that  roll  above  its  summit  and 
down  its  sides.  When  the  top  is  visible, 
people  regard  it  as  a  certain  token  of 
fine  weather.  When  our  saint  hoisted 
sail,  such  possibly  had  been  its  condi¬ 
tion,  and  as  brightly  it  arose  on  “the 
poet’s  warm  thought,”  he  thus 
describes  it : — 

“  Sweetly  the  morning  lay  on  tarn  and 
hill, 

Gladly  the  waves  played  in  its 
golden  light ; 

And  the  proud  top  of  the  majestic  hill 
Shone  in  the  azui'e  air — serene  and 
bright.” 


VOYAGE  OF  SAINT  BRENDAN. 


5 


mm 


supposed  to  approach  in  height  St.  Brendan’s  Hill  in  Kerry  ;  nor 
which  commands  so  extensive  a  view  of  the  Shannon,  nor  of  its 
entrance  to  the  ocean.23 

The  merest  abstract  of  St.  Brendan’s  Trans-Atlantic  Voyage  shall 
be  sufficient  for  the  purposes  of  this  History.24  Before  weighing 
anchor,  and  having  stored  provisions  in  his  galley,  we  are  told  that  the 
renowned  abbot  and  navigator  ordered  his  brethren,  in  the  name  of 
the  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost  to  embark.26  When  he  had 
embarked,  his  mariner  monks  unfurled  the  sail,  and  began  their  voyage, 
steering  towards  the  summer  solstice.  The  wind  was  favourable,  and 
they  had  merely  to  hold  their  sail.  After  a  fortnight  the  wind  fell, 
and  they  took  their  paddles  till  their  strength  was  spent.  Brendan 
encouraged  them  saying,  ‘‘  Fear  not,  for  God  watches  over  us,  and  He 
guides  our  bark ;  trim  the  sail  and  let  her  float ;  God  will  do  what  He 
wishes  with  His  servants,  and  with  His  bark.”  26 

As  when,  many  centuries  subsequent,  the  mariners  of  Columbus 
bound  on  a  like  voyage  of  discovery  gave  away  to  anxiety,  hope  and 
fear,  under  favouring  winds,  transient  clouds  and  showers ;  so  the 
disciples  of  their  resolute  master  Brendan  must  have  felt  nervous  and 
uneasy,  when  leaving  vast  tracts  of  ocean  behind  them.  They  knew 
not  to  what  part  of  the  world  their  vessel  bore  them.  Every  evening 
they  took  some  food  ;  forty  daj’s  had  elapsed,  and  their  provisions  were 
nearly  exhausted.  But,  in  this  great  extremity,  suddenly  an  island 
appeared  to  them,  and  it  was  crowned  with  towering  rocks.  From  the 
midst  of  this  isle  many  streams  ran  down  to  the  sea.  Exhausted  with 
hunger  and  thirst,  the  monks  wished,  even  before  they  found  a  landing 
place,  to  dip  up  water.27  Brendan  said,  “  Beware,  brethren  ;  what  you 
would  do  must  lead  to  madness.  God  has  not  even  deigned  to  show  you 
the  port,  and  yet  you  desire  to  steal  a  march  upon  His  Providence.  In 


23  Hence,  it  is  thought  to  have  been 
confounded  with  the  Knock  Patrick 
mentioned  by  an  ancient  writer,  called 
Necham. 

24  For  a  full  account  of  the  incidents 
given  in  the  Voyage  of  St.  Brendan, 
whose  festival  is  held  on  the  sixteenth 
of  May,  the  reader  is  referred  to  “  Lives 
of  the  Irish  Saints,”  by  the  present 
writer,  vol.  v.,  Sixteenth  Day  of  May, 
art.  i.  There,  too,  additional  parti¬ 
culars  are  given  regarding  the  early 
colonization  of  America  by  Irishmen. 

26  As  he  remained  alone  on  the  bank, 
and  blessed  the  spot  of  their  departure, 
three  brothers  came  from  the  monas¬ 
tery,  and  fell  at  his  feet,  saying, 
“  Father,  permit  us  to  follow  thee 
whither  thou  goest,  or  else  we  are 
resolved  to  die  here  of  hunger  and 
thirst.”  Seeing  them  thus  pressing, 


and  even  offering  violence  to  his  feel¬ 
ings,  the  Saint  bid  them  enter  his  ship. 

-6  Under  these  circumstances,  the 
poetic  thought,  afterwards  so  happily 
expressed  by  Ireland’s  illustrious  bard 
Thomas  Moore,  often  filled  the  mind 
of  the  holy  man  : — 

“And  as  I  watch  the  line  of  light  that 
plays, 

Along  the  smooth  wave  tow’rd  the 
burning  west, 

I  long  to  tread  that  golden  path  of 
rays, 

And  think  ’twould  lead  to  some 
bright  isle  of  rest.” 

'■^Atchbishop  Ussher  truly  declares 
that  there  are  most  prodigious  fables  in 
the  narrative  of  St.  Brendan’s  Seven 
Years’  Voyage  to  the  Western  Land. 
See  “  Britannicarum  Ecclesiarum  Au- 
tiquitates,”  cap.  xvii..  p.  494. 


6 


IRISH-AMER1CAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


three  days,  our  Lord  will  point  out  a  spot,  where  we  may  land,  and 
where  the  wearied  shall  regain  their  strength.”  For  three  days,  in 
consequence,  they  coasted  around  that  island,  and  on  the  third  day 
they  disembarked  in  a  small  port ; 28  possibly  somewhere  on  the  eastern 
shores  of  the  present  trans-Atlantic  Republic. 

The  holy  man  Brendan  then  landed  on  the  shores  of  a  vast  territory, 
the  extent  of  which  was  unknown  ;  and,  after  along  term — seven  years 
are  said  to  have  been  spent  in  exploration — he  and  his  hardy  mariners 
returned  to  Ireland.  Strange  were  their  adventures,  indeed,  as 
chronicled  in  a  well-known  story  of  the  Middle  Ages,  “The  V'oyage  of 
St.  Brendan.”  But,  this  seems  to  have  been  noted  down  originally  from 
oral  tradition,  and  afterwards  it  was  encumbered  with  various  wild 
fancies.29  Several  Latin  versions  of  St  Brendan’s  voyage  are  still  in 
manuscript,  and  many  of  these  are  ancient.30  Never  was  popular 
romance  more  eagerly  read  in  modern  times  than  was  this  composition, 
not  alone  in  Ireland  but  throughout  Europe.  It  was  recited  in  the 
Irish  language  ;  it  was  sung  in  the  Norman-French  ;31  while  it  has  been 
translated  into  various  dialects,  and  published  in  prose  and  poetry.32 

The  traditions  of  St.  Brendan’s  voyage  haunted  the  imagination  of 
Irish  navigators  after  his  time ;  and  a  new-born  zeal  to  spread  Chris¬ 
tianity  in  that  distant  land  excited  the  ardour  of  many  inmates  in  the 
monastic  establishments.  Several  vain  attempts  were  made  by  St. 
Colman  Ua  Liathain,33  in  the  sixth  century,  to  reach  the  Promised  Land, 
but  he  was  as  frequently  driven  back  to  the  shores  of  Ireland  by 
opposing  winds  and  waves.  In  a  light  sea-boat  this  same  Cormac  left 
Columba’s  monastery  for  a  cruise  in  quest  of  the  Land  of  Promise.  After 
great  dangers  encountered  he  touched  at  the  Orkney  Islands,  and  he  re¬ 
turned  after  an  absence  of  several  months  to  Iona.  Before  a  south  wind 
he  sailed  for  fourteen  days,  without  making  land,  into  the  northern  seas. 
He  came  to  a  region  where  the  ocean  seemed  alive  with  loathsome 
creatures,  which  crowded  on  the  oars,  and  stung  the  hands  of  those 
attempting  to  remove  them.  Those  were,  doubtless,  a  harmless  shoal 
of  Medusae,  so  commonly  seen  in  the  still  summer-sea.  Again  he  returned 


28 To  the  “Acta  S.  Brendani’-  the 
reader  must  be  referred  for  the  conclu¬ 
sion  of  this  most  imaginative  and 
mystical  legend.  See  a  full  account  of 
all  manuscripts  in  Achille  Jubinal's 
“  La  Lagende  Latine  de  S.  Brandaines,” 
avec  une  Traduction  inedite  en  prose  et 
en  poesie  romanes.  Baris,  1S36,  8vo. 

*  See  L.  Tachet  de  Barneval’s  “  His- 
toire  Legendaire  de  l’lrlande,”  chap, 
xxxiii.  Baris,  1856,  8vo. 

30  See  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Moran’s 
“Acta  Sancti  Brendani,”  published  at 
Dublin,  in  8vo,  A.D.  1872. 

31  See  a  notice  of  the  published 
version,  in  Blackwood’s  Magazine,  for 
1836.  Vol.  xxxix.,  June,  No.  ccxlvii. 


32  Our  own  talented  countryman, 
Denis  Florence  McCarthy,  has  ele¬ 
gantly  rendered  “The  Voyage  of  St. 
Brendan  ”  into  English  verse,  in  rythrn 
of  surpassing  harmony,  and  in  a  form 
well  calculated  to  impress  it  on  the 
imagination  and  memory  of  every  taste¬ 
ful  reader. 

33  The  festival  of  this  holy  Abbot  of 
Durrow  is  held  on  the  21st  of  June. 
For  a  more  particular  account  of  his 
voyages,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Reeves’  Adamnan’s  “  Life  of 
St.  Columba,”  Lib.  i.,  cap.  6,  p.  30 ; 
Lib.  ii.,  cap.  42,  p.  166  to  171  ;  Lib. 
iii.,  cap.  17,  and  Additional  Notes  F 
pp.  270  to  275 


EARLY  IRISH  COLONIZATION  OF  AMERICA.  7 

safely  from  this  adventurous  voyage.34  Another  disciple  of  St  Columba 
and  his  successor  as  Abbot  of  Iona,  St.  Baithen  sailed  out  to  seek  a 
desert  in  the  great  ocean.25  He  asked  St.  Columba’s  blessing  before  his 
departure  He  reiumak  however,  unsuccessful  in  the  object  of  his 
search,  and  having  see*  many  great  sea-monsters  during  his  voyage.  We 
find  it  stated,  likewise,  that  one  Maelduin,  the  sou  of  a  Munster  chief, 
with  a  number  of  young  men,  wandered  for  three  years  and  seven 
months  on  the  Atlantic.36 

There  is  good  reason  for  supposing,  however,  that  several  Irish 
Christians  had  reached  the  trans-Atlantic  shores  at  an  early  period.37 
That  they  had  settled  there  is  on  record,  and  it  is  even  probable  that 
they  had  propagated  Christianity  among  the  aboriginal  inhabitants 
— then  chiefly  composed  of  the  tawny  or  Red  Men  of  tire  forest,38  whose 
origin,  descent,  and  migrations  have  so  often  exercised,  and  still  baffled, 
the  researches  of  American  ethnologists  and  historians.39 

From  Ireland,  the  accounts  of  the  Promised  Land,  and  of  other 
visionary  islands  in  the  great  ocean,  spread  throughout  Europe.  The 
Irish  navigators  had  early  and  frequent  intercourse  with  the  Northmen 
of  Iceland  and  of  Scandinavia  ;  and  these  daring  seamen  were  anxious 
to  hazard  their  lives  around  the  coasts  of  Greenland  to  the  points 
indicated.40  Attributing  the  honour  of  a  first  discovery  to  our  countrymen, 
and  foreshadowing  the  Great  Land  as  a  colonial  dependency,  justly 
belonging  to  the  country  of  their  birth,  the  Northern  Sagas  called  it, 
Irland-it-Mickla,  or  Great  Ireland. 

The  route  towards  it,  commencing  from  the  north  of  Europe,  is 
described  in  this  manner.  The  Sagas  and  Eddas  relate,  that  to  the 
south  of  habitable  Greenland,  enormous  icebergs  were  to  be  found 
floating.  Then  wild  tracts'  and  uninhabitable  wastes  extended.  Beyond 


34  See  Joseph  Andrew’s  “  Scotland  in 
Early  Christian  Times,”  Lecture  iv., 
pp.  141  to  143. 

35  See  Rev.  Dr.  Reeves’  Adamnan’s 
“  Life  of  St.  Columba,”  Lib.  i.,  cap.  20, 
pp.  49,  50. 

36  This  account  is  given  in  the  Trinity 
College  Manuscript,  Dublin,  and  classed 
H  2.  16.  There  is  only  a  fragment  of  this 
tale  in  the  Leabhar  na  h-IIuidhre,  edited 
by  John  T.  Gilbert,  in  1870,  Dublin,  fol. 

37  See  some  interesting  statements, 
with  reference  to  this  subject,  in 
Thomas  D’Arcy  M ‘Gee’s  “  History  of 
the  Irish  Settlers  in  America,  from  the 
earliest  Period,”  chap.  i. 

38 See  Joseph  Buchanan’s  “Sketches 
of  the  History,  Manners,  and  Customs 
of  the  North  American  Indians  ;  inter¬ 
spersed  with  numerous  Anecdotes  of 
these  curious  People  ;  Account  of  their 
Languages  and  singular  Customs,”  a.d. 
1824,  8vo. 


One  of  the  most  gorgeously  illustra¬ 
ted  works  published  and  relating  to 
them  is  Henry  R.  Schoolcraft’s  “His¬ 
torical  and  Statistical  Information 
respecting  the  History,  Condition,  and 
Prospects  of  the  Indian  Tribes  of  the 
United  States.”  The  first  volume 
appeared  in  1851,  and  it  was  published 
in  Philadelphia  by  authority  of  Con¬ 
gress,  in  royal  8vo  shape.  The  illustra¬ 
tions  are  by  S.  Eastman,  Capt.,  U.S.A., 
and  by  other  eminent  artists,  while 
several  other  volumes  have  already 
been  issued. 

40  See  “  A  Popular  History  of  the 
United  States.  from  the  first  Dis¬ 
covery  of  the  Western  Hemisphere  by 
the  Northmen  to  the  end  of  the  Civil 
War.  Preceded  by  a  Sketch  of  the 
Pre-historic  Period  and  the  Age  of  the 
Mound  Builders.”  By  William  Cullen 
Bryant  and  Sydney  Howard  Gay,  in 
four  imperial  8vo  volumes. 


s 


IP.ISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


these,  the  country  of  the  Scrtelings  lay.  A  region  called  Markland 
extended  beyond  their  territory ;  while  Vinland  the  Good  stretched 
beyond  the  country  just  noticed.  Icelandic  records,  and  especially  the 
Landnamabock,41  indicate  the  Scrtelings’  land  to  be  identified  with  the 
country  of  the  Esquimaux;  Markland  with  the  present  Labrador  or  Nova 
Scotia  ;  Wineland42  or  Vinland  the  Good  with  the  New  England  States  ; 
and  a  tract  called  Huitranmanaland  or  Albania,  denominated  also  the 
White  Man’s  Land,  is  thought  to  have  comprised  the  present  Southern 
United  States.  Formerly,  vessels  are  said  to  have  gone  from  Ireland, 
while  their  crews  landed  in  this  particular  region.  Helleland  is  also  a 
denomination  found,  but  its  situation  is  not  so  easily  determined.43 
However,  it  has  been  thought  identical  with  Newfoundland,  and  that  it 
was  so  called  from  its  flat  stones.44  Centuries  before  the  Spaniards 
landed  in  Florida,  and  at  a  very  early  period,  Irishmen  had  settled 
in  that  southern  portion  of  North  America,  and  had  introduced  a 
civilization,  the  traces  of  which  remain,45  Even  so  far  back  as  the 
eighth  century,  a  people  speaking  the  Irish  language  46  was  found  there  ; 
while,  according  to  a  probable  conjecture,  that  country  lying  along  the 
eastern  coast,  and  stretching  from  Chesapeake  Bay  to  the  Carolinas  and 
Florida,  had  been  inhabited  by  Irishmen.47  Even  the  Shawanese  Indians, 
who  formerly  lived  in  Florida,  had  a  tradition  that  white  men  anciently 
occupied  that  region,  and  that  they  were  possessed  of  iron  implements.48 
In  fact,  the  numerous  antiquities  discovered  in  various  parts  of  the 
Eastern,  Northern  and  Southern  States  prove,  that  a  race  of  civilized 
beings  were  resident  there,  and  possibly  anterior  to  the  Indians.49 
How  they  have  disappeared  as  a  race  now  seems  to  be  unknown.  It  is 
probable,  they  had  been  destroyed  by  the  Red  Men ;  or  as  some 


41  This  old  Scandinavian  chronicle 
was  compiled  in  the  thirteenth  cen¬ 
tury,  and  apparently  from  older  docu¬ 
ments. 

45  So  called  from  the  wild  vines  there 
discovered  in  the  woods. 

43  See  “  Antiquitates  Americana'  sive 
Scriptures  Septenrionales  Rerum  Ante- 
Columbianarum  in  America.” 

44  See  “  I  he  Religion  of  the  North¬ 
men,”  by  Rudoph  Keyser,  Professor  of 
History  in  the  University  of  Norway, 
translated  by  Barclay  Pennock.  Intro¬ 
duction,  chap,  iii.,  p.  79. 

45  Ancient  and  indigenous  remains  in¬ 
dicate  such  a  conclusion,  as  stated  by 
N.  Ludlow  Beamish  in  “  The  Discovery 
of  America  by  the  Norohernmen  in  Lhe 
tenth  Century,  with  Notices  of  the 
Early  Settlements  of  the  Irish  in  the 
Western  Hemisphere.”  London,  1841, 
8vo. 

46  According  to  the  statement  of  Pro¬ 
fessor  C.  C.  Rafn,  of  Copenhagen. 


47  Such  is  the  opinion  of  Dr.  Von 
Tschudi,  in  his  woikon  Peruvian  Anti¬ 
quities.  Also,  Lionel  Wafer  states, 
that  there  was  a  wonderful  affinity  be¬ 
tween  the  Irish  language  and  that 
spoken  by  the  Indian  people  living  in 
the  Isthmus  of  Darien.  He  relates 
many  other  particulars  to  show  that 
an  early  Irish  colonization  of  the, 
great,  western  Continent  must  have 
occurred. 

48  See  “  Antiquitates  American®  sive 
Scriptores  Septentribnales  Rerum  Ante- 
Columbianarum  in  America,”  edited  by 
Professor  Rafn  Preface,  p.  xxxvii. 

49  Among  these  are  traces  of  forts, 
supposed  to  have  been  built  by  Northern 
European  settlers  ;  while  it  is  remark¬ 
able,  that  vaiious  warlike  instru¬ 
ments  and  domestic  implements 
have  been  discovered,  resembling  in 
nearly  every  important  w rticular  simi¬ 
lar  objects  preserved  in  the  Irish  and 
Scandinavian  museums. 


EARLY  IRISH  COLONIZATION  OF  AMERICA. 


9 


ethnologists  have  supposed,  that  intermarriages  with  native  women  took 
place,  which  merged  the  white  completely  in  the  coloured  race. 

That  old  Icelandic  Scandinavian  chronicle  the  Landnamalxick 
relates  that  Ulf  the  Squinter,  son  of  Hogni  the  White,  occupied  the 
whole  of  Reykianess — a  south-west  promontory  of  Iceland — which 
was  situated  between  Thorskafiord  and  Hafrafell.  He  had  a  wife 
named  Biorg,  who  was  daughter  to  Eyvind  the  East-countryman. 
They  had  a  son  named  Ari,  and  he  was  driven  by  a  tempest 
to  Huitranmanaland,  which  some  called  Irland-it-Mickla  or  Great 
Ireland.50  This  region  was  placed  in  the  western  ocean,  near  to 
Vinland  the  Good,  and  westwards  from  Ireland.  Ari  is  said  to 
have  been  baptized  in  this  newly-discovered  country.  If  so,  it 
must  have  been  by  Irish  missionaries,  and  among  Irish  colonists. 
He  was  held  there  in  great  respect,  and  elected  as  a  chief,  nor 
would  the  inhabitants  permit  him  to  take  his  departure  from  among 
them.  Besides  the  foregoing,  many  Northmen,  settled  in  our  Island 
and  in  Northern  Europe,  frequently  sailed  to  those  distant  shores.51 
A  Northman  merchant  of  Limerick  called  Rafn,  and  his  kinsman 
Ari  Marson,  Biron  or  Biorn,52  with  a  person  named  Gudlief,53  besides 
Madoc,54  a  prince  in  Wales,  with  Antonio  Zeno,  a  Venetian,55  and 
others,  are  said  to  have  landed  there,  at  various  times,  during  the 
Middle  Ages.  56 


50  See  Frederick  Henry  Alexander 
Baron  de  Humboldt’s  “  Cosmos,”  vol.  i. 
The  first  volume  of  this  great  work  ap¬ 
peared  in  Germany,  1845.  It  was  trans¬ 
lated  into  French  by  M.  H.  Faye,  and 
published  at  Paris,  in  8vo. 

51  See  that  interesting  work  of  Joshua 
Toulmin  Smith,  “  The  Discovery  of 
America  by  the  Northmen  in  the  Tenth 
Century,”  chap,  v.,  with  the  illustra¬ 
tive  map  prefixed.  Second  edition, 
London,  1842,  8vo. 

62  He  flourished  about  the  beginning 
of  the  eleventh  century.  He  was  an  ad¬ 
venturous  Icelander,  and  a  voyager  of 
great  experience.  He  was  driven  by 
a  tempest  from  his  course  to  Greenland, 
far  to  the  south-west,  when  he  discov¬ 
ered  a  flat  country,  free  from  rocks  but 
covered  with  thick  woods.  These  char¬ 
acteristics  render  it  probable,  that  he 
touched  at  the  present  Newfoundland. 

83  Sometimes  called  Lief,  the  son  of 
Eric  ltaude  or  Bed  Head,  a  Danish 
chief.  He  sailed  from  Greenland,  with 
Biorn  as  a  pilot,  and  twenty-five  men 
on  board  his  vessel.  This  was  in  the 
year  1002,  and  after  a  south-west 
course,  they  arrived  in  Helleland  and 
Markland,  as  also  iu  Vinland. 


54  He  is  said  to  have  been  the  son  of 
Owen  Gwynneth,  Prince  of  North 
Wales.  Having  prepared  certain  ships, 
with  men  and  provisions  on  board,  they 
all  sailed  westwards,  leaving  the  shores 
of  Ireland  to  the  north,  about  the  year 
1170.  They  at  last  landed  on  unknown 
and  uninhabited  shores,  where  they 
found  a  pleasant  and  fruitful  country. 
The  account  of  these  adventures  is  to 
be  found  in  Hakluyt’s  Voyages,  the 
first  edition  of  which  was  published 
a.d.  1589,  and  the  second  in  1600. 

58  In  the  year  1380,  he  sailed  from 
the  Mediterranean  Sea  northwards, 
reached  Frisland,  thence  he  voyaged 
northwards  to  Engroenland  or  Green¬ 
land,  where  he  found  a  monastery  of 
Friars  and  a  church  dedicated  to  St. 
Thomas.  Hearing  a  report,  that  one 
thousand  miles  westward  from  Frisland 
there  was  a  large  inhabited  island 
called  Estoliland,  Antonio  Zeno  sailed 
thither  on  a  voyage  of  discovery,  and 
after  encountering  heavy  gales,  his  crew 
arrived  at  strange  lands,  which  they 
found  to  be  inhabited. 

86  Some  accounts  of  these  adventures 
are  to  be  found  in  Dr.  Jeremy  Belknap’s 
“  Biog-npl'ies  of  the  Early  Discoverers 


10 


IElSH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  drain  of  emigration,  which  has  contributed  so  materially  to 
increase  the  wealth,  progress,  power  and  resources  of  the  vast  trans- 
Atlantic  Republic,  thus  seems  to  have  originated  in  Ireland,  having 
first  diffused  the  blessings  of  Religion  and  civilization,  at  a  very  remote 
time,  and  when  darkness  and  paganism  overspread  the  great  W estern 
Continent.  The  eagerly  read  “  Navigatio  Sancti  Brendani”  was  found 
in  every  monastic  and  great  public  library  of  Europe,  long  before  the 
invention  of  printing. 57  This  narrative  of  his  voyage  had  been  a 
received  tradition  in  France,  in  the  Netherlands,  in  Italy,  in  Germany 
and  in  Spain,  for  centuries  before  the  birth  of  Columbus. 

The  fame  of  St.  Brendan’s  adventures  even  reached  to  Asia.  We 
have  nearly  conclusive  reasons  for  believing,58  that  this  legend  was 
known  at  an  early  period  to  the  Arabs.  Some  of  the  Arabian  geo¬ 
graphers  describe  the  “  Island  of  Sheep,”  with  the  “  Island  of  Birds,” 
and  in  words,  which  must  have  been  taken  from  those  accounts  remain¬ 
ing,  in  reference  to  our  Christian  Ulysses  and  his  Odyssey.  This  latter 
narrative  exercised  a  greatly  imaginative  influence,  especially  on  the 
western  inhabitants  of  Europe. 

Nebulous  traditions,  very  generally  accepted  in  the  past,  have 
certain  truthful  bearings  on  the  real  facts  of  history.  There  is  sufficient 
reason  to  infer,  as  we  have  seen,  that  many  believed  in  the  existence  of 
a  Great  Ireland  extending  far  towards  the  west,  even  long  before 
Columbus’  discovery  of  America.  Assuredly,  if  they  were  only  in  a 
relative  measure  mistaken,  we  are  in  a  fair  way  to  see  the  doubtful 
vision  of  their  days  become  a  reality;  for,  there  are  few  Irish  families, 
at  the  present  time,  whose  kindred  have  not  found  and  formed 
alliances  with  that  dream-land  of  the  west,  the  United  States,  and 
whose  dearest  hopes  are  not  bound  with  its  progressive  life  and  vigour. 
Those  forecasts  and  influences,  likely  to  be  exercised  on  the  current  of 
modern  and  future  civilization,  are  thus  blended  with  Ireland’s  early 
historic  memorials  in  the  past;  while  they  are  largely  caused  and 
continued  by  Irish  emigration,  especially  during  the  latest  centuries. 


of  America.”  This  writer,  however, 
like  most  of  the  early  American  His¬ 
torians,  appears  to  have  been  ignorant 
of  St.  Brendan’s  celebrated  voyage,  as 
a  source  for  information,  while  compil¬ 
ing  his  work. 

67  Jacobus  de  Voragine,  who  was  born 
about  a.d.,  1230,  and  who  became  Pro¬ 
vincial  of  the  Dominicans  and  Bishop 
of  Genoa — the  native  city  of  Colum¬ 
bus — gave  St.  Brendan’s  Land  a  special 
rominence  in  the  thirteenth  century, 
y  writing  his  “  Golden  Legend,”  in 
which  a  notice  of  it  may  be  found. 


“According  to  Thomas  Wright, 
editor  of  the  Forty-eighth  publication 
of  the  Percy  Society,  entitled  “  St. 
Brandan  ;  a  Medieval  Legend  of  the 
Sea.”  It  contains  an  early  English 
metrical  version  of  the  famous  Voyage, 
as  well  as  a  prose  version,  which  is 
almost  identical  with  that  which  Denis 
F.  McCarthy  copied  from  Caxton’s 
Golden  Legende,  and  which  was  pub¬ 
lished  in  the  Dublin  University  Magaz¬ 
ine,  vol.  xxxix.,  at  p.  556,  et  seq. 
There  is  a  valuable  preface  to  the  body 
of  that  work. 


THE  ABORIGINAL  RACES  OP  AMERICA, 


11 


CHAPTER  II 

The  Aboriginal  Races  of  America — The  Red  Men  and  Mound-Builders  in  the 
United  States — Antiquities  found  there — The  Voyage  and  Discoveries  of 
Christopher  Columbus — Subsequent  Expeditions  and  their  Results — Her¬ 
nando  de  Soto’s  Adventures — Conversion  of  the  Indians  to  Christianity. 

It  is  known  that  the  Continent  of  North  and  South  America  had 
been  inhabited,  at  a  very  early  period  ;  yet,  by  what  peculiar  tribes,  or 
from  what  particular  countries,  however  plausibly  discussed,  would  seem 
nevertheless  very  uncertain.1  The  generic  races  of  Indians  or  Red 
Men  found  there,  by  the  first  European  colonizers,  were  distinctive 
from  those  living  in  other  parts  of  the  world  ;  while  there  are  specific 
differences  in  stature,  features,  language,  manners  and  customs,  still 
known  to  exist  among  the  various  tribes.2  The  aboriginal  inhabitants 
of  North  America  probably  belong  to  various  nations.  It  is  generally 
thought,  that  a  great  majority  of  the  early  colonists  crossed  over  from 
Eastern  Asia  through  Behring’s  Straits,  at  a  very  remote  era.  They 
are  supposed  to  have  arrived,  at  different  periods.3  Certain  writers 
believe,  that  the  Phoenicians  and  Scythians  sailed  thither  and  settled 
there  in  times  very  distant  from  our  own ;  but,  that  those  ancient 
mariners  found  themselves  unable  to  return  or  to  communicate  their 
adventures  after  they  had  landed. 

The  earlier  inhabitants  of  America  are  deemed  to  have  been  those 
most  advanced  in  knowledge  and  skill.  There  can  be  no  doubt,  that  a 
civilized  race  had  flourished — especially  in  the  midland  and  southern 
parts  of  the  North  American  Continent — at  a  very  remote  time,  4  as 
proved  by  the  remarkable  pyramids,  dykes,  causeways,  idols,  temples,  5 


1  On  this  subject,  the  reader  may 
consult  the  very  elegantly  written  and 
learned  “History  of  America,”  first 
published  by  Dr.  William  Robertson, 
a.d.,  1777,  in  two  4to  volumes.  It  has 
since  passed  through  numerous  editions. 

2  See  George  Gatlin’s  “  Lectures  and 
Notes  on  the  Manners,  Customs  and 
Condition  of  the  North  American 
Indians.”  In  two  beautifully  illus¬ 
trated  8vo  volumes.  London,  1842. 

3  Such  opinions  have  been  advanced 

by  a  writer  in  the  “  Universal  History 
from  the  earliest  Accounts  to  the  pres¬ 
ent  Time.”  Compiled  from  original 
Authors.  Illustrated  with  Charts, 
Maps,  Notes,  &c.  Second  edition,  8vo. 
Ancient  Part  of  Universal  History,  in 

eighteen  volumes.  London,  1779  to 


1781.  Modern  Part  of  Universal  His¬ 
tory  in  thirty-eight  volumes.  London, 
1780  to  1784.  See  vol.  xxxviii.  of 
America,  cap  iv.,  sec.  ii. 

4  See  William  Hickling  Prescott’s 
*  ‘  History  of  the  Conquest  of  Mexico, 
with  a  preliminary  view  of  the  ancient 
Mexican  Civilization,  and  the  Life  of  the 
Conquerer  Hernando  Cortez.”  New 
York,  1843,  in  three  8vo  volumes. 

®TheRt.  Hon.  Edward  King,  Vis¬ 
count  Kingsborough,  eldest  son  to  the 
third  Earl  of  Kingston  and  born  in  the 
County  of  Cork,  produced  a  truly 
magnificent  work,  intituled  “The  Anti- 
uities  of  Mexico :  comprising  Fac- 
imilies  of  Ancient  Mexican  Paintings 
and  Hieroglyphics  preserved  in  the 
Royal  Libraries  of  Paris.  Berlin  and 


12 


IRISH-AM ERICAN  HISTORY  OK  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


hieroglyphics,  paintings,  and  sculptures,6  as  also  other  monuments  found 
in  Mexico,7  Yucatan8  and  Peru.9  Their  agriculture  and  manufactures 
were  considerable,  while  their  social  and  civil  state  was  remarkably 
well-ordered. 

Curious  remains  of  antiquity  abound  in  a  variety  of  places  through¬ 
out  the  United  States,  but  those  indications  afford  only  objects  for 
doubtful  investigation.  Mounds,  monuments,  earthworks,  stone-cased 
graves,  stone  implements,  flint  spear  and  arrow-heads  and  rock-carvings 
are  the  chief  antiquities  hitherto  discovered.10  They  have  been  ascribed 
to  various  races  and  to  different  periods.  In  connexion  with  primitive 
United  States  history,  the  Red  Men  seem  to  occupy  the  chief  claim 
on  our  consideration.  Since  the  white  colonization  many  works  have 
appeared,  but  these  are  almost  solely  descriptive  of  their  habits  and 
manners.11  The  aborigines  of  America  have  an  obscure  history12 — if 
indeed  it  can  at  all  be  investigated 13 — yet  perhaps  existing  monuments 
and  antiquities  may  help  to  throw  some  light  on  their  origin  and 
race.14 


When  the  European  colonists  landed  in  the  United  States,  the 
Huron  and  Iroquois  tribes — including  the  Five  Nations  of  New  York — 
occupied  a  territory  adjoining  the  Algunquins,  with  whom  they  were 
constantly  at  war.  The  Cherokee  Indians  inhabited  the  region  of 


Dresden  ;  in  the  Imperial  Library  of 
Vienna ;  in  the  Vatican  Library  ;  in 
the  Borgian  Museum  at  Rome  ;  in  the 
Library  of  the  Institute  of  Bologna ; 
and  in  the  Bodleian  Library  of  Oxford; 
together  with  the  Monuments  of  New 
Spain,  by  M.  Dupaix ;  with  their 
respective  Scale  of  Measurement  and 
accompanying  Descriptions.”  The 
whole  illustrated  by  many  valuable  in- 
edited  Manuscripts  by  Lord  Kings- 
borough  The  Drawings  on  stone  by 
A.  Aglio,  London,  imperial  folio 
volumes  i.  to  vii.,  1831,  volumes  viii. 
and  ix.,  1848.  These  volumes  were 
originally  published  at  the  rate  of  £  140. 
The  first  seven  volumes  cost  Lord 
Kingsborough  £32,000  to  produce. 
This  munificent  nobleman  was  arrested 
for  debt  in  Dublin,  and  thrown  into 
prison,  where  he  was  seized  with 
typhus  fever,  which  terminated  fatally 

in  1837. 

6  See  Charles  Knight’s  “I’aglish 
Cyclopedia.”  Geography,  vol.  i  Art. 
Mexico,  col.  789. 

7  See  Desire  Charnay’s  “  ancient 
Cities  of  the  New  World,  Travels  and 
Explorations  in  Mexico  and  Central 
America,”  1857-1882,  translated  from 
the  French  by  J.  Gonino  and  Helen  S. 


Conant,  with  upwards  of  200  fine  illus¬ 
trations.  London,  Chapman  and  Hall. 
Roy.  8vo. 

8  See  “  Pre-Historic  America,”  by 
the  Marquis  de  Nadaillac,  translated 
by  N.  D' An  vers,  and  edited  by  W.  H. 
Dali.  Illustrated  with  219  engravings. 
London,  8vo. 

9  See  Justin  Winsor’s  “  Narrative 
and  Critical  History  of  America.”  Vol. 
i.,  chap,  iii.,  pp.  133  to  282. 

10  The  Smithsonian  Institution  at 
Washington,  D.C.,  has  already  con¬ 
tributed  much  towards  the  antiquarian 
knowledge  of  the  United  States. 

11  See  Francis  S.  Drake’s  “  Indian 
Tribes  of  the  United  Sfetes,  their 
History,  Antiquities,  Customs,  Reli¬ 
gion,  Arts,  Language,  Tradition,  Oral 
Legends  and  Myths.”  In  two  volumes. 
Roy.  4to. 

12  See  James  Adair’s  “History  of 
the  American  Indians,”  published  in  a 
quarto  volume,  at  London,  in  1775. 

13  See  Georgius  Hornius’  “De  Ori- 

ginibus  Americanis,”  Lib.  iv.  Pub¬ 
lished  at  the  Hague  in  1652.  12mo. 

14  See  Alexander  W.  Beadford’s 
“  American  Antiquities  and  Researches 
into  the  Origin  and  History  of  the  Red 
Race.”  New  York,  1843,  8vo. 


THE  RED  MEN  AND  MOUND  BUILDERS.  13 


Alabama,  Georgia  and  Carolina.  The  Mobiles  were  near  them  in  the 
south.  But,  as  all  were  nomad  and  migratory  tribes,  it  is  now  difficult 
to  fix  the  extent  of  their  respective  territories  in  ancient  times.  The 
Indians  spoke  different  languages  or  dialects,  and  lived  under  chiefs, 
usually  selected  for  their  bravery  and  wisdom.  They  recognised  one 
supreme  being,  whom  they  called  the  Great  Spirit,  hut  they  did  not 
worship  him.  They  had  also  some  idea  regarding  a  future  state.  They 
believed,  likewise,  in  a  Bad  Spirit,  whom  they  feared,  and  whom  they 
sought  to  propitiate  by  witchcraft  and  magic  practices.  The  Sioux  or 
Dacota  tribes  furnish  the  type  of  language  and  customs  for  a  group  of 
Indians,  embracing  the  Iowas,  the  Pawnees,  the  Aurickarees,  the 
Omahas,  the  Otoes,  the  Minnitarees,  the  Mandans,  the  Osages,  the 
Kansas,  the  Quappas,  the  Winnebagoes,  the  Missouries,  and  a  great  circle 
of  prairie  tribes.  It  is  not  contended  that  these  tribes  can  always  con¬ 
verse  understand ingly  together  ;  but,  so  far  as  it  has  been  compared  by 
vocabularies,  their  language  is  distinctly  traced  through  one  ethnological 
chain.15  The  Dacota  tribes,,  about  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  seem  to  have  inhabited  a  vast  range  of  country,  extending  from 
the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  western  banks  of  the 
Mississippi,  and  even  northwards  from  the  sources  of  the  Missouri 
River.  The  Algonquin  tribes  were  east  and  north  of  the  Mississippi, 
while  their  range  of  country  was  even  still  more  extensive.  They 
spread  over  Canada  and  along  the  Atlantic  seaboard.  The  Illinois,  in 
the  state  so  named  at  present  and  their  kindred  people,  belonged  to 
this  latter  group.  The  course  of  migration  of  the  Dacotas  appears  to 
have  been  from  south  to  north  ;  but  they  began  to  retreat,  in  course  of 
time,  before  the  north-western  rush  of  the  Algonquins.  Now  the 
Sioux  or  Dacotas  are  driven  far  away  towards  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
and  various  sub-divisions  of  their  tribes  have  nomad  tents,  or  they 
dwell  in  villages  far  beyond  the  western  bounds  of  the  Mississippi 
River.16 

Runic  forts,  tombs17  and  inscriptions  have  been  discovered,  especially 
in  the  eastern  and  middle  states.  Those  indications  furnish  evidence 
of  a  Scandinavian  colonization.  Axes,  spears  and  arrow-heads  have  been 
found  in  great  numbers,  especially  in  the  middle,  western  and 
northern  states.  Numerous  pre-historic  monuments  known  as  Indian 
mounds,  rise  throughout  the  midland  districts  of  North  America. 
Frequently  these  are  of  considerable  height  and  dimensions.  Several 
have  been  explored,  and  they  were  found  to  contain  human  remains18  of 


16  It  is  possible,  that  philologists 
hereafter  may  trace  some  connexion  be¬ 
tween  it  and  some  tongues  of  the  other 
continents,  especially  of  Europe  or  Asia. 

16  See  Henry  R.  Schoolcraft’s  “  His¬ 
torical  and  Statistical  Information  re¬ 
specting  the  History,  Condition  and 
Prospects  of  the  Indian  Tribes  of  the 
United  States.” 


17  One  of  these  has  been  brought  te 
light  near  the  falls  of  the  Potomac 
River,  and  it  is  said  to  have  had  an  in¬ 
scription  in  the  Runic  character,  pur¬ 
porting  to  be  the  burial  place  of  Susie 
or  Susa,  a  daughter  to  one  of  tho 
Northmen  expeditionary  chiefs. 

18  In  the  year  1880,  one  of  these  was 
opened  and  examined  in  Brutish  Creek 


14 


1BISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


gigantic  proportions.  But,  the  great  ethnological  problem,  as  to  the  race 
and  period  contemporaneous  with  their  erection,  remains  to  be  solved  ; 
nor  does  it  seem  likely,  that  the  nomadic  habits  of  the  Red  Men  could 
bear  any  relation  to  a  state  of  society  existing  when  those  monuments 
were  raised  to  such  imposing  heights.  The  earth  works  and  artificial 
mounds  of  Missouri  are  singularly  interesting,  as  belonging  to  the  remote 
builders,  whose  history  can  scarcely  be  investigated,  at  the  present  time.19 
The  most  extensive  remains  are  to  be  found  probably  in  south-eastern 
Missouri,  and  along  the  western  bank  of  the  Mississippi.20 

It  has  been  supposed,  that  the  mound-builders  were  a  race  of  people, 
whose  remains  indicate  a  state  of  advancement  in  the  arts  and  manu¬ 
factures,  far  superior  to  the  savage  tribes  who  succeeded  them.  Some 
archaeologists  have  adopted  an  opinion,  that  the  mound-builders  were  not 
an  extinct  people,  but  were  the  ancestors  of  existing  tribes.  Numerous 
wedges,  chisels,  hammers,  and  other  implements  have  been  found  in  the 
ancient  mining  pits  of  Keweenaw  Point,  Lake  Superior,  and  at  Isle 
Royal.  Artistic  forms  of  copper  implements,  both  cast  and  hammered,21 
cannot  fail  to  impress  the  observer,  that  a  race  of  men  existed  in  early 
times,  and  whose  origin  is  enveloped  in  mystery,  but  whose  skill  rivals  that 
of  man  in  historic  times,  assisted  by  all  the  inventions  of  this  iron  age. 
Recent  discoveries  have  shown  that  various  forms  of  copper  implements 
had  been  deposited  in  their  burial  places  by  the  mound-builders,  with  mark¬ 
ings  similiar  to  those  left  by  moulds  in  the  process  of  casting.  That  these 
people  were  acquainted  with  the  art  of  smelting  copper,22  besides  that 
of  hammering  it,  has  been  inferred,  on  what  seam  to  be  reasonable 
grounds.23 


Township,  State  of  Ohio,  by  a  his¬ 
torical  society  of  the  district,  under 
the  direction  of  Dr.  Everhart.  The 
mound  is  said  to  have  been  eight  feet 
in  height  and  some  sixty-four  by  thirty- 
five  feet  wide  at  the  top.  In  one  part 
of  it  was  found  a  kind  of  clay  or  brick 
coffin.  Skeletons  of  enormous  size  were 
found.  These  were  buried,  each  corpse 
in  a  separate  grave.  Resting  against 
one  of  the  rude  coffins  there  was  a 
stone  tablet,  with  characters  engraved 
upon  it,  and  which  show  in  the  opinion 
of  Dr.  Everhart,  that  the  giant  race 
must  have  been  Sun  worshippers.  An 
account  of  these  preceedings  will  be 
found  in  the  ‘  ‘  Kansas  City  Review  of 
Science.” 

19  Several  very  singular  specimens  of 
ancient  pottery  have  been  found 
throughout  the  State.  Those  of  south¬ 
eastern  Missouri  have  been  described 
by  Dr.  Edward  Evers,  and  they  are 
illustrated  by  lithographed  plates. 

80  See  “  Contributions  to  the  Archaeo¬ 


logy  of  Missouri,”  by  the  Archaeological 
Section  of  the  St.  Louis’  Academy  of 
Science,  Part  i.  Pottery,  Salem,  Mass. 
1880,  4to. 

81  Professor  Lewis  has  remarked, 
that  much  the  greater  number  of  pre¬ 
historic  copper  hammers  were  evidently 
produced  by  hammering. 

22  Colonel  Whittlesey  mentions,  that 
in  all  the  pits  examined  by  him  traces 
of  fires  were  to  be  seen  on  the  sides 
thereof,  and  fragments  of  charcoal  and 
wood  in  the  debris,  indicating  the  use 
of  fire  in  assisting  the  action  of  the 
wedges  and  in  extracting  the  masses  of 
copper.  The  melting  point  of  copper 
is  about  1  ’98  degrees  centigrade,  which 
no  doubt  fused  the  small  points  of 
copper  attached  to  the  larger  masses, 
and  which  the  quick  perception  of  these 
aboriginal  people  noticed,  and  thus  it 
led  them  to  utilize  those  particles  in 
casting.— “Smithstonian  Contributions 
to  Knowledge  for  1 883.” 

23  The  fact,  that  in  a  collection  made 


VOYAGES  AND  DISCOVERIES  OK  COLUMBUS. 


15 


The  legend  of  St.  Brendan  had  a  reflex  and  shadowy  light  to  throw  on 
geographical  science,  down  to  a  comparatively  late  period.24  Through 
the  clouds  of  Irish  recorded  traditions,  and  through  recent  historic 
investigations,  we  may  now  trace  the  facts,  but  slightly  obscured  by  the 
vivid  cross-lights  of  old  legend-mongers.  • 

Soon  after  the  invention  of  printing,  Great  Ireland  was  set  down  and 
also  the  Isle  of  St.  Brandan,25  on  conjectural  Italian  charts  as  lying 
opposite  to  Europe  and  Africa.  In  an  ocean  space  between  the  south 
of  Ireland  and  the  end  of  Guinea  it  was  represented.  There  can  be  little 
doubt,  that  from  a  very  distant  period,  the  inhabitants  of  Ireland  had 
entertained  widely-spread  ideas  about  the  existence  of  a  great  and  far- 
removed  western  continent.  Some  had  even  reached  it  and  landed,  still 
their  adventures  were  unrecorded,  and  therefore  during  long  ages  a  void 
continued  in  the  history  of  those  lost  tribes.  Thus,  to  the  Genoese 
Columbus  belongs  the  glory  of  disenchanting  the  ocean,  and  of  bringing 
two  hemispheres  into  contact,  although  historically  separated  from  the 
beginning  of  remote  time.  A  land  of  great  extent  was  then  rendered 
accessible  to  humanity.  It  was  opened  by  one  of  the  most  illustrious 
examples  of  patience,  intelligence,  fortitude  and  courage  ever  exhibited 
by  man.  Born  in  1447,  in  Genoa,  this  illustrious  explorer  became  a  mariner 
at  the  early  age  of  fourteen.26  Columbus  sailed  to  the  north  of  Europe, 
where  he  penetrated  even  to  the  polar  seas.27  His  well  cultivated  mind,28 
disciplined  by  a  superior  education,  desired  to  be  correctly  informed 
regarding  the  traditions  which  remained,  and  which  were  even  noted  in 
chronicles,  as  also  to  ascertain  that  knowledge  possessed  by  the  hardy  sea- 


by  Mr.  Perkins,  he  saw  copper  imple¬ 
ments  of  mound  origin,  and  which  bear 
well-defined  traces  of  the  mould,  is 
stated  by  Professor  Foster.  “It  is 
impossible,”  he  adds,  “to  infer,  after 
a  careful  examination  of  the  specimens, 
that  the  ridges  have  been  left  in  the 
process  of  hammering  or  oxidation. 
The  more  I  examine  their  arts  and 
manufacture,  the  stronger  becomes  my 
conviction  that  they  were  something 
more  than  a  barbaric  people.” — “  Pre¬ 
historic  Races  of  the  United  States.” 

24  In  the  Middle  Ages,  seven  cities, 
with  bishops  and  a  great  number  of 
Christians,  were  thought  to  have  been 
in  the  Laud  of  St.  Brendan,  having 
fled  thither  in  ships,  at  the  time  when 
Spain  and  Portugal  had  been  conquered 
by  the  Moors. 

25  On  the  Map  of  the  World,  traced 
by  Martin  Behaiin,  a.,).  1492,  and  on 
most  Charts  in  the  time  of  Columbus, 
it  is  noted.  See  a  reproduction  of 
several  ancient  Charts  and  an  account 
of  the  pre-Columbian  explorations  in 


Justin  Winsor’s  “Narrative  and  Criti¬ 
cal  History  of  America,”  vol.  i., 
chap.  ii. 

26  Washington  Irving  has  written  a 
most  elegant  and  interesting  “History 
of  the  Life  and  Voyages  of  Lhristopher 
Columbus.”  This  was  published  in 
four  octavo  volumes  by  Murray  of  Lon¬ 
don,  a.d.  1828.  In  an  Appendix,  No. 
xxiii.  to  the  Fourth  Volume,  we  find 
some  account  respecting  “The  Imagi¬ 
nary  Island  of  St.  Brendan.”  It 
abounds  in  various  inaccuracies,  con¬ 
cerning  the  saint  and  his  adventures, 
and  those  mistakes  have  been  very  gen¬ 
erally  followed  by  American  historians. 

27  Columbus  made  a  voyage  to  Iceland 
in  February,  1477-  This  was  fifteen 
years  before  the  Spanish  Court  fitted 
out  his  American  expedition. 

28  See  “Historic  del  S.D.  Fernando 
Colombo,  nelle  quali  s’  ha  particolare, 
et  vera  Relatione  della  Vita  et  de’  Fatti 
dell’  Ammiraglio  D.  Chnsto/ero  Co¬ 
lombo,  suo  Padre,”  cap.  iv.  Venice, 
a.d.  1571,  8vo. 


16 


IRISH-AMER1CAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


men  of  those  distant  shores  and  harbours.  He  received  enlightenment 
from  the  Scandinavin  mariners29  who  had  ventured  far  out  on  the  western 
main,  and  especially  concerning  the  shadowy  far-off  land,  very  generally 
known  to  have  existed  long  before  his  time.30  He  afterwards  made  a 
voyage,  so  far  south  as  the  coast  of  Guinea,  in  Africa.  V ersed  in  geometry 
and  navigation,  in  history  and  natural  science,  he  had  excellent  opportu¬ 
nities  for  studying  astronomy  and  cosmography,  in  a  practical  manner. 

Our  celebrated  countryman  St.  Virgil,  Bishop  of  Saltzburgh,31  had 
many  centuries  before  this  period  taught,  that  the  earth  was  a  globe, 
and  his  theory  of  the  Antipodes  meant  its  being  inhabited  at  opposite 
extremes.32  Columbus  had  only  believed  in  the  sphericity  of  the  earth, 
with  possible  islands,  lying  very  far  westwards  in  the  great  Atlantic.  He 
had  longed  for  the  opportunity  of  exploring  that  waste  of  waters ; 
and  finally  at  his  earnest  suit,  King  Ferdinand  and  Queen  Isabella 
of  Spain  furnished  him  with  a  decked  vessel  called  a  carrack,  and  with 
two  caravels  or  open  boats.33'  With  a  crew  of  ninety  sailors  and  a  year’s 
provisions,  Columbus  sailed  from  Palos,  a  port  of  Spain  on  the  Mediter¬ 
ranean  the  3rd  of  August  1492,  and  clearing  the  Straits  of  Gibraltar, 
he  reached  the  Canary  Islands  on  the  12th  of  that  same  month.  Here 
he  was  engaged  refitting  and  laying  in  stores  of  food  and  water ;  but,  on 
the  6th  of  September,  he  sailed  out  to  the  west,  on  his  celebrated  voyage 
of  discovery.  The  stories  of  St.  Brendan’s  voyage  specially  entered  as 
important  and  cheering  elements  into  the  imagination  and  feelings  of 
those  Spanish  sailors  of  Christopher  Columbus,  when  they  went  forth 
to  gain  renown,  in  connexion  with  their  discovery  of  America.  The 
traditions  of  Scandinavian  settlement  were  not  unknown  to  their  able 
and  learned  commandant.34 


29  It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  Irland- 
it-Mikla  is  marked  on  primitive  maps 
published  at  Copenhagen,  and  it  is 
represented  as  standing  out  in  the 
Western  Atlantic  Ocean. 

30  Paulo  1  oscanelli,  a  celebrated  geo¬ 
metrician  of  Florence,  made  a  map  for 
and  corresponded  with  Columbus,  long 
before  he  embarked  on  his  first  voyage, 
in  1492.  The  idea  of  both  was  to  find 
a  western  route  to  the  Indies.  On  it, 
the  customary  space  was  occupied  by 
the  land  of  St.  Borondon  Barind,  or 
Brendan.  After  his  vessel  sailed  and 
under  every  gloom  of  disappointment, 
this  Chart  and  the  outlined  territory 
probably  fired  the  imagination  and  sus¬ 
tained  the  hopes  of  Columbus. 

31  This  illustrious  man,  distinguished 
both  for  his  learning  and  virtues,  nou¬ 
rished  in  die  eighth  century.  Born  in 
Ireland  about  its  commencement,  and 
having  studied  in  its  schools,  ho  passed 
on  to  France,  duringthe  reign  of  Pepin- 


le-Bref,  from  a.d.  741  to  768.  This 
King  bestowed  on  him  various  marks  of 
his  favour.  St.  Virgil  was  consecrated 
Bishop  of  Saltzburgh,  a.d.  746,  and  he 
died  about  a.d.  780.  His  feast  occurs 
on  the  27th  of  November. 

32  Before  his  time,  various  conjectures 
regarding  the  shape  and  extent  of  the 
earth  had  exercised  the  minds  of  an¬ 
cient  writers.  Many  of  these  thought 
a  great  continent  lay  far  out  in  thei 
Atlantic.  See  Alexander  de  Humboit’s 
“  Examen  critique  de  l’Histoire  de  la 
Geographie  de  Nouveau  Coutineut.” 
Tome  i.  Paris,  a.d.  1836.  This  work 
appeared  in  five  octavo  volumes ;  the 
last  volume  was  published  a.d.  1839. 

33  See  William  Hickling  Prescott’s 
“History  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  the 
Catholic”  for  particulars  of  their  aid  to 
Columbus.  This  elegantly  written  and 
esteemed  work  appeared  in  1833  at  Bos¬ 
ton  and  at  London,  in  three  vols. ,  Svo. 

34  Regarding  the  discovery  of  the 


I 


I 

I 


John  Smith, 

Founder  oF  Virginia 


Christopher  Columbus 

D  / sco  verer  oTA  m  erica . 


Lord  Baltimore, 

Founder  of  Maryland . 


William  Penn, 

Founder  of  Pennsylvania 


VOYAGES  AG'D  DISCOVERIES  OF  COLUMBUS. 


17 


With  great  steadfastness  of  purpose  and  presence  of  mind,  he  contrived 
to  encourage  the  spirits  of  his  crew,  and  to  allay  their  fears,  while  so  many 
days  had  elapsed  before  they  obtained  sight  of  land.  At  last,  on  the 
night  of  October  11th,  Columbus  himself  pterceived  a  light,  which  he 
deemed  to  be  on  shore,  and  the  following  day  land  was  clearly  visible. 
This  was  one  of  the  present  Bahama  Islands,  and  afterwards  it  was  called 
Guanahana.  Several  other  islands  were  soon  discovered,  in  that  group 
distinguished  as  the  West  Indies  ;35  it  being  then  supposed,  that  a 
continuous  number  of  such  islands  reached  onwards  to  the  East  Indies. 
Columbus  spent  some  months  in  coasting  among  the  newly-discovered 
lands,  and  in  noting  the  particulars  of  his  voyage.  The  following  year, 
leaving  a  colony  behind  him,  he  resolved  on  returning  to  Spain.  There 
he  safely  arrived  in  March,  1493,  and  he  was  received  with  the  most 
distinguished  honours  by  the  court  and  by  the  Spanish  nation.  He 
then  prepared  a  special  report  regarding  his  voyage  and  discoveries. 

The  singing  birds,  the  green  vegetation,  and  tropical  luxuriance 
so  greatly  celebrated  in  the  voyage  of  St.  Brendan,  are  frequently 
mentioned  in  the  letter  which  Columbus  addressed  to  his  sovereign.36 
Again,  this  adventurous  man  returned  with  a  considerable  fleet, 
and  1,500  persons  on  board,  to  colonize  the  possessions  thus  secured  for 
the  crown  of  Spain.  Afterwards,  he  discovered  the  continent  of  South 
America,  in  1498  ;  but  his  closing  career,  marked  by  the  ingratitude  of 
his  sovereign  and  the  treachery  of  those  he  had  befriended,  brought  him 
back  to  Spain  in  irons.  He  died  at  Valadolid,  on  the  20th  of  May,  1506, 
in  the  fifty-ninth  year  of  his  age,  and  his  body  was  buried  in  the 
cathedral  of  Seville.  Although  from  his  name  the  great  western 
continent  has  been  often  poetically  called  Columbia ;  yet,  it  has 
more  generally  received  the  denomination  America,  from  one  Amerigo 
Vespucci,37  Latinised  Americus  Vespucius,  a  Florentine  navigator,  also 


American  coast  by  the  Northmen,  fre¬ 
quent  mention  has  been  made  since  the 
time  of  Adam  of  Bremen,  but  Torfeus 
in  his  “  Historia  Vinlandiae  ”  (1705), 
furnished  the  account  of  it  which 
Malte  Brun  and  Pinkerton  followed  ; 
they,  however,  identified  the  locality 
mentioned  with  the  coast  of  Labrador 
or  Newfoundland.  Dr.  Robertson  ig¬ 
nored  the  subject  entirely  in  his  “  His¬ 
tory  of  America.”  The  German  J.  R. 
Foster,  in  his  “Discoveries  in  the 
North,”  published  during  the  last 
century,  and  Henderson,  in  his  “Resi¬ 
dence  in  Iceland  ”  (1814-15),  both  give 
currency  to  those  accounts,  which,  in 
an  appendix  to  his  “  Life  of  Columbus,” 
Irving  rather  guardedly  dismissed  as  un¬ 
trustworthy  in  his  original  editions,  and 
as  guardedly  allows  to  be  of  possible 
importance  in  later  issues  of  his  work. 


35  See  Herrera  v  Tordesillas,  “  His¬ 
toria  general  de  los  Hechos  de  los 
Castellanos  en  las  I  si  as  y  Tierra  firme 
del  mar  Oeuano.”  This  work  appeared 
at  Madrid,  a.d.  1601,  in  four  folio 
volumes.  The  greatly  admired  History 
of  Herrera  comprises  eight  Decades,  and 
w'th  geographical  Tables,  it  includes 
chronologically  from  a.d.  1472  to  a.d. 
1554.  Towards  the  end  of  the  second 
folio,  there  is  a  description  of  the  West 
Indies. 

36  In  that  mystical  sense,  used  by 
Jacobus  of  Voraggio,  the  Promised  Land 
is  here  described,  but  in  a  more  realistic 
form. 

37  See  Le  Vicomte  de  Santarem’a 
“  Rescherches  historiques,  critiques 
et  bibliographiques  sur  Americ  Ves- 
puce  et  ses  Voyages.”  Paris,  1842, 
8vo. 


]8 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


in  the  service  of  Spain.  He  sailed  from  Cadiz,  May  20th,  1497, 
according  to  his  own  account,  when  he  voyaged  to  the  coast  of  Paria, 
and  even  so  far  as  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  In  reality,  he  did  not  set  out 
until  1499,  with  Ojega,  a  Spanish  officer,  who  had  voyaged  under 
Columbus.  They  sailed  in  a  fleet  of  four  vessels,  despatched  from  Seville. 
After  the  death  of  Columbus,  Vespucci  published  a  book  and  chart, 
regarding  the  newly  discovered  Continent.  He  thus  acquired  a  false 
celebrity,  while,  like  many  a  great  originator  who  fails  in  gaining  the 
fame  and  merit  justly  due  to  his  genius,  another  obtains  or  usurps  the 
title,  and  who  had  little  claim  to  such  an  honour.  However,  the  fiist 
European  discoverers  of  the  great  Western  Hemisphere  were  Irishmen  ; 
although,  it  seems  more  than  probable,  they  were  not  the  first  permanent 
inhabitants. 

So  firm  was  the  popular  belief  in  St.  Brendan’s  Land,  celebrated  in 
mediaeval  romances,38  that  various  expeditions  were  organised  for  its 
exploration  after  the  return  of  Columbus  to  Europe.  Portuguese 
and  Spanish  accounts  concur  in  testimony  regarding  this  prevailing 
opinion  and  the  hopes  to  which  it  gave  rise.39 

The  discovery  of  Columbus  led  to  other  great  maritime  enter- 
prizes  and  results.40  John  Cabot  and  his  son  Sebastian,  who  were 
Venetians,41  had  been  engaged  by  King  Henry  VII.  of  England  to 
adventure  in  discovery  of  a  shorter  passage  to  the  East  Indies,  but  in 
a  north-western  direction.42  Towards  the  close  of  June,  1497,  they 


38  The  people  of  the  Canary  Islands 
believed,  that  in  those  mirages  which 
often  arose  far  out  in  the  Atlantic 
Ocean  and  towards  the  west,  the 
Islands  of  St.  Brendan  and  of  the  fabled 
Seven  Cities  could  be  seen  in  the  dis¬ 
tance. 

89  This  is  shown  in  the  depositions 
taken  before  Pedro  Ortes  de  Funes, 
Grand  Inquisitor  of  the  Canaries. 
Don  Gaspar  Dominguez,  taking  two 
friars  on  board  his  vessel,  conducted 
the  last  of  these  voyages  to  St. 
Brendan’s  fancied  land  so  late  as  1721. 
During  that  year,  leaving  the  popu¬ 
lace  in  a  state  of  anxious  and  indes¬ 
cribable  curiosity,  the  able  com¬ 
mandant  and  his  apostolic  chaplains 
sailed  from  the  Island  of  Teneriffe. 
But,  unsuccessful  as  preceding  vessels, 
their  ship  returned  from  this  cruise, 
without  discovering  the  Greater  Ire¬ 
land  of  their  quest. 

40  See  Washington  Irving’s  “Voy¬ 
ages  and  Discoveries  of  the  Com¬ 
panions  of  Columbus.”  London,  1831, 
18mo.  It  forms  the  Third  Volume  of 
the  “Life  and  Voyages  of  Christopher 
Columbus,”  in  the  Geoffrey  Crayon 


edition  of  his  complete  works.  Lon¬ 
don,  1881,  sm.  4to. 

41  See  that  curious  and  interesting 
work  of  Richard  Haklvyt,  Preacher, 
“The  Principal  Navigations,  Voyages, 
Traffiques,  and  Discoveries  of  the 
English  Nation,  made  by  Sea  or  ouer- 
land  to  the  remote  and  farthest  dis¬ 
tant  Quarters  of  the  Earth,  at  any 
time  within  the  Compasse  of  these 
1600  yeres,”  &c.  Published  at  London, 
in  three  folio  volumes,  a.d.  1599,  1600. 
In  the  third  of  these  volumes,  there 
are  details  of  the  Voyages  of  Chris¬ 
topher  Columbus,  of  John  and  Sebas¬ 
tian  Cabot,  and  of  the  subsequent 
English  and  other  navigators  to  the 
shores  of  the  Western  Continent. 
An  edition  of  this  rare  work  was 
published  in  London  in  five  folio 
volumes,  a.d.  1809-1812.  Later  still, 
a.d.  1889-1890,  under  the  editorship 
of  Edmund  Goldsmith,  F.S.A.  (Scot.), 
another  edition  appeared  in  Edinburgh 
in  four  octavo  volumes.  This  latter 
edition  is  the  one  chiefly  quoted. 

42  See  J.  G.  Kohl’s  “  Popular 
History  of  the  Discovery  of  America, 
from  Columbus  to  Franklin,  translated 


SUBSEQUENT  EXPEDITIONS  AND  THEIR  RESULTS. 


19 


landed  on  a  coast,  now  generally  supposed  to  be  that  of  Newfound¬ 
land.43  Sebastian  Cabot  at  a  much  later  period  visited  the  coast  of 
Brazil.  In  1524,  John  Verazzani,  a  Florentine  in  the  service  of 
France,  ranged  the  new  Continent  along  its  eastern  coast  from 
Florida  to  Newfoundland.46  He  called  this  extensive  but  unexplored, 
region  New  France.  In  1534,  at  the  instance  of  King  Francis  I., 
James  Cartier  of  St.  Malo  sailed  westwards,  landing  at  Newfoundland, 
•and  afterwards  entering  the  River  St.  Laurence.  Then  he  returned 
to  give  an  account  of  his  discoveries.  He  sailed  once  more  from. 
France  in  1535,  and  subsequently  in  1540,  when  he  explored  a  con¬ 
siderable  portion  of  that  country,  now  knotvn  as  Canada,47  Dis¬ 
covered  by  Juan  Ponce  de  Leon,  a.d.  1513, 48  the  Spaniards  were  the 
first  Europeans  to  colonize  permanently  the  United  States,  after  the 
discovery  of  America  by  Columbus.  In  1565,  they  settled  at  St. 
Augustine  in  Florida,  The  earlier  European  adventurers  were  often 
men  addicted  to  violent  courses,  and  many  were  little  better  than, 
pirates  and  buccaneers.  Although  Catholic  Missionaries  left  Europe 
with  them  for  the  purpose  of  spreading  the  Gospel  among  the  native 
races,49  these  latter  had  fully  divined  the  rapacious  characters  and 
avaricious  objects  of  their  countrymen  ;  so  that  the  vices  and  im¬ 
moralities  of  the  colonists  only  served  to  excite  their  hatred  and 
disgust,  while  leading  mostly  to  bloodshed  and  reprisals. 

Received  historic  accounts  leave  the  central  parts  of  America  in 
possession  of  numerous  tribes  of  savage  Indians,  before  the  French 


from  the  German,  by  Major  R.  R. 
Noel.”  Published  at  London,  in 
1856,  8vo. 

43  Long  before  his  time,  it  is  now 
known,  that  Norman,  Breton  and 
Basque  mariners  had  resorted  to  that 
Island,  and  that  they  had  fished  off 
its  celebrated  banks. 

44  See  Berewoot’s  “  Novus  Orbis,  id 
est,  Navigationes  Primse  in  Ameri- 
cam,”  pp.  71  to  132.  Published  at 
Rotterdam  in  1616,  12mo. 

45  See  Rev.  Dr.  Jeremy  Belknap’s 
“Biographies  of  the  early  Discoverers.” 
Vol.  i.  , 

46  He  arrived  there  in  1525,  and  he 
took  possession  of  it,  in  the  name  of 
King  Francis  I.  In  a  subsequent 
voyage,  he  was  cut  to  pieces  and 
devoured  by  the  savages. 

47  The  interesting  story  of  Ms 
adventures  and  discoveries  is  told  in 
“  Brief  Recit  de  la  Nav'gad°n  faicte 
£s  Isles  de  Canada,”  &c.  It  was 
published  in  Paris,  1545,  8vo. 

48  The  French  attempted  to  colonize 
Florida,  which  they  called  Carolina 


in  compliment  to  their  monarch 
Charles  IX.  Subsequently,  they  were 
driven  out  by  the  Spaniards,  who 
extirpated  that  colony.  See  “  The 
Popular  Encyclopedia ;  or  Conversa¬ 
tions  Lexicon,”  vol.  iii.  Art.  Florida, 
pp.  214,  215. 

49  A  Franciscan  Juan  Juarez  had 
been  consecrated  Bishop  of  Florida, 
a.d.  1528,  and  with  several  mis¬ 
sionaries,  he  set  out  with  Panfilo  de 
Naravez.  All  perished  without  an 
opportunity  for  making  an  establish¬ 
ment.  The  Dominicans  landing  in 
Florida,  a.d.  1549,  were  put  to  death 
by  the  Indians.  At  a  still  later 
period,  the  Jesuits  also  failed  to 
Christianize  the  native  races  in 
Florida.  A  very  complete  account  of 
those  transactions  may  be  found  in 
the  learned  and  most  researchful  work 
of  John  Gilmarv  Shea,  “  History  of 
the  Catholic  Church  within  the 
Limits  of  the  United  States,”  vol.  i.. 
Book  ii. ,  chap,  i.,  pp.  100  to  182. 
Published  at  New  York,  in  four 
royal  8vo.  volumes,  1886  to  1892. 


20  IR1SH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

and  Spaniards  commenced  the  work  of  white  colonization.  Spain 
was  then  the  greatest  monarchy  of  the  Old  World,  and  France  almost 
rivalled  her  greatness,  when  the  maritime  discoveries  of  the  fifteenth 
and  sixteenth  centuries  urged  both  nations  to  extend  their  possessions 
in  the  New  World.  Christianity  was  thus  planted  in  America. 
There,  too,  the  Church  was  soon  destined  to  extend  her  benign  in¬ 
fluence  ;  although  at  first,  in  their  quests  for  gold,  the  Spaniards 
especially  were  guilty  of  great  outrages  on  the  native  tribes,  who  were 
distributed  as  slaves  among  the  conquerors.  Avarice  and  rapacity 
constantly  thwarted  missionary  •work,  while  the  adventurers  were 
busily  engaged  planting  colonies  in  various  parts  of  the  South.  Great 
efforts  were  made,  however,  to  repress  their  cruelties,  crimes  and 
•abuses,  especially  by  Bartholomew  de  Las  Casas,30  the  first  priest- 
ordained  in  the  New  World,  and  by  the  celebrated  Cardinal  Ximenes, 51 
chief  minister  of  the  Emperor  Charles  V. 

The  history  of  those  various  colonies  established  in  the  New  World 
is  peculiarly  interesting  as  to  their  origin,  increase  and  extension,  but 
we  cannot  here  detail  their  several  vicissitudes.52  It  is  only  with  the 
colonization  of  the  United  States  we  have  now  to  treat. 

When  the  Spaniards  had  succeeded  in  founding  various  colonies 
in  Southern  America,  Hernando  de  Soto  was  appointed  by  the  Em¬ 
peror  Charles  V.53  of  Spain  as  Governor  over  the  Island  of  Cuba  and 
President  of  Florida.  This  Spanish  governor  conceived  the  idea  of 
exploring  the  Lower  Mississippi.  He  passed  as  far  north  as  the 
mouth  of  the  Arkansas  River,  accompanied  by  900  infantry  and  by 
350  cavalry  soldiers,  in  1539.  He  even  took  the  resolution  of  sailing 
up  White  River,  crossed  the  Ozark  Ridge,  thus  entering  probably  the 
south-western  parts  of  the  present  Missouri.  After  passing  the 
Mississippi  at  the  lower  Chickesaw  bluffs,  De  Soto  marched  five  days 
over  the  alluvions  of  that  great  river,  and  he  then  went  to  the  hilly 


He  wrote  “  Brevissima  Relation 
de  la  Destruction  de  las  Indias.”  His 
complete  works  appeared  under  this 
title,  “Las  Obras  de  D.  Barthel.  de 
Las  Casas,”  at  Seville,  1552,  4to. 
They  have  been  re-published  with  a 
French  translation,  by  L'orente,  at 
Paris,  in  four  octavo  volumes.  A 
Life  of  Las  Casas  is  prefixed. 

51  See  Flechier’s  “  Histoire  du  Car¬ 
dinal  Ximenes.”  Paris,  1693,  4to. 
Also  “  The  Life  and  Times  of  Cardinal 
Ximenes.”  translated  from  the  German 
of  Dr.  Von  Hefele,  by  John  Canon 
Dalton,  chap,  xxv.,  pp.  495  to  517. 
London,  1885,  8vo. 

d2  James  Qrahame  wrote  and  pub¬ 
lished  in  London  “The  History  of 
the  Rise  and  Progress  of  the  United 
States  of  North  America  till  the 


British  Revolution  in  1688.”  This 
work  appeared  in  two  volumes  8vo. 
Afterwards  a  new  edition  was  pub¬ 
lished  in  1836,  and  with  a  continua¬ 
tion,  which  brought  his  history  down 
to  the  year  1776,  in  four  octavo 
volumes.  This  was  republished  in 
Philadelphia  in  1845,  in  four  volumes 
8vo ;  in  1846,  in  two  volumes  8vo ; 
and  in  1848,  in  two  volumes  8vo. 
The  second  American  edition  contains 
a  Memoir  of  the  author,  by  President 
Josiah  Quincy,  ll.d.  This  work 
contains  very  ample  accounts,  written 
with  perspicuity  and  discrimination, 
regarding  the  early  American  settle¬ 
ments  and  colonists. 

53  See  Dr.  William  Robertson’s 
“  History  of  the  Reign  of  the  Emperor 
Charles  V.,”  first  pub’ished  in  1769, 
in  three  volumes,  4to. 


HERNANDO  DE  SOTO  S  ADVENTURES 


21 


country  adjoining  the  present  St.  Francis.  He  reached  the  site,  called 
Casqui,  probably  a  location  of  the  Kaskasia  Indians.  He  then  pro- 
ceeded  north-east-wardly  against  Capahas,  probably  the  t^uappas,  on  a 
bayou  of  the  Mississippi.  Then  he  returned  south-west  to  Casqui, 
and  next  he  marched  south  to  Quiguate,  probably  near  Black  River. 
Hearing  fresh  reports  of  mineral  wealth,  he  proceeded  north-west  to 
Coligoa,  near  the  source  of  the  St.  Francis.  This  was  his  utmost 
northern  point,  at  the  foot  of  the  high  granitical  peaks  of  St.  Francis 
County,  Missouri.  Afterwards,  he  marched  south,  in  search  of  a  rich 
province  called  Cayas,  where  he  probably  crossed  the  White  River 
valley  at  Tanico.  He  thence  proceeded  through  a  hilly  country  to 
Tula,  in  the  fine  valley  of  Buffalo  Creek,  where  he  found  the  Indians 
tattooed,  ill-favoured  and  ferocious.  For  twenty  days  he  there  re¬ 
cruited,  and  next  he  passed  an  uninhabited  region  westward  for  five 
days,  over  the  elevations  of  the  Ozark  chain.  He  found  fertile  praries 
beyond,  inhabited  by  Indians,  called  Quipana,  Pani,  or  Pawnees.54 
A  few  days’  further  march  brought  him  to  the  Arkansas  River,  near 
the  Neosho,  which  appears  to  have  been  about  the  present  site  of 
Fort  Gibson.  Thus  De  Soto  and  his  companions  seem  to  have  been 
the  earliest  white  explorers  of  Missouri. 

De  Soto  spent  the  winter  of  1541-42  on  the  plains  or  prairies  be¬ 
yond  the  Ozark  range,  and  probably  in  the  western  tracts  of  the 
present  state.  Doubtless,  Catholic  missionaries  accompanied  him. 
He  named  the  country  through  which  he  passed  “  Florida,”  as  he  had 
set  out  from  that  territory,  already  so  called  by  the  Spaniards.  It 
is  thought,  that  smelting  had  been  carried  on  by  the  Spaniards.55 
There  is  no  question  about  De  Soto  having  crossed  the  Ozark  range 
of  mountains  in  each  direction.  He  left,  however,  in  April  1542  for 
the  Mississippi  River,  taking  the  hot-springs  of  Arkansas  on  his  way. 
It  is  almost  certain  his  successor  Don  Luiz  de  Moscoso  visited  like¬ 
wise  that  country  west  of  the  Ozarks,  a.d.  1542.  When  he  had 
reached  the  Mississippi,  De  Soto  ascended  the  river  so  far  as  the 
present  site  of  New  Madrid.  But  this  enterprising  man  soon  after¬ 
wards  died  on  the  river,  and  to  conceal  his  death  from  the  Indians,  it 
is  said  his  companions  buried  the  body  of  the  discoverer  of  the 
Mississippi  beneath  its  deepest  waters.56 


54  See  Nathan  H.  Parker’s  “  Missouri 
as  it  is  in  1867 :  an  Illustrated 
Gazetteer  of  Missouri,”  p.  39.  Phila¬ 
delphia,  1867,  8vo. 

55  In  Vernon  County,  near  the 
dividing  line  between  the  States  of 
Missouri  and  Kansas,  were  descried 
in  1849  some  remains  of  earth-works, 
supposed  to  have  been  the  site  of  De 
Soto’s  encampment.  These  consisted 
of  four  ditches,  four  or  five  feet  wide, 
extending  in  four  right  parallel  lines, 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  length. 


These  terminated  at  the  commence¬ 
ment  of  three  parallel  curved  ditches 
of  like  dimensions.  Again,  these 
latter  terminated  at  the  beginning  of 
two  others,  inversely  curved,  and 
about  200  yards  in  length.  Those 
embankments  are  on  a  prarie,  between 
the  waters  of  the  lower  Dry  Woods 
and  Clear  Creek.  Furnaces,  with 
stone  foundations  and  a  quantity  of 
cinders,  as  also  silver  ore  and  some 
gold,  have  been  there  discovered. 

56  His  Life  has  been  written  by 


22  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 

Thus,  it  will  be  seen,  that  portion  of  the  Mississippi  River  forming 
the  eastern  boundary  of  Missouri  State  was  discovered  by  Spanish 
explorers.  These,  it  is  thought,  were  the  first  white  men  that  had 
floated  upon  the  Mississippi.  After  the  death  of  De  Soto,  succeeded 
the  disastrous  retreat  of  Louis  de  Moscoso  de  Alvarado,  with  the 
remains  of  the  Spanish  governor’s  expedition.  In  the  year  1543,  and 
on  the  22nd  of  December,  after  many  dangers  and  hardships,  he 
arrived  in  Mexico,  with  only  three  hundred  and  eleven  survivors.57 
This  result  seems  to  have  disoouraged  adventure  on  any  large  scale 
from  the  south. 

So  early  as  1544,  Catholic  missionaries  had  entered  Texas  ;  they 
had  also  formed  establishments  in  Florida,  in  New  Mexico,  and  they 
had  even  attempted  the  conversion  of  the  Indians  in  California,  where 
the  Carmelites  and  Jesuits  laboured.  The  latter  fathers  had  formed 
a  -settlement  on  the  Chesapeake  or  Bay  of  St.  Mary,  but  they  were 
massacred  by  the  natives  in  1571.  58 

During  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  several  English  navigators 
adventured  to  the  New  World.  Martin  Frobisher  sailed  with  two 
vessels  in  quest  of  -a  north-west  passage  to  India  in  June  1576,  and 
after  touching  the  southern  part  of  Greenland,  he  reached  the  strait 
which  still  bears  his  name.  Returning  to  England,  -another  expedi¬ 
tion  consisting  of  three  vessels  se-t  sail  in  May,  1577,  and  again  having 
visited  the  Esquimaux  the  ships  arrived  home  in  September.  A 
fleet  of  thirteen  vessels  was  afterwards  placed  under  his  com¬ 
mand,  and  leaving  England  in  May  1578,  Frobisher  voyaged  towards 
the  north-west,  returning  in  October,  having  failed  in  the  objects  he 
had  in  view.59  Having  obtained  letters  patent  from  the  Queen,  June, 
1578,  Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert 60  and  his  half  brother  the  renowned  Sir 
Walter  Raleigh  put  to  sea ;  but  they  were  obliged  to  return,  having 
lost  one  of  their  ships  in  an  engagement  with  a  Spanish  squadron. 
Gilbert  sailed  a  second  time  from  England  in  1581,  to  form  settlements 
in  America,  howrever,  he  was  obliged  to  put  back  with  his  expedition 
through  -stress  of  weather.61  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  62  had  formed  the 


tJarciJasso  de  la  Vega,  whose  “His- 

toria  del  Adelantado  Hernando  de 
Soto”  has  been  published  at  Madrid, 
in  1723,  fol. 

S7  See  Garcilasso  de  la  Vega,  “La 
Florida  del  Ynca,”  Lib.  ii.,  Par.  ii. , 
cap.  1  to  7,  and  17  to  38  ;  Lib.  iii.  ; 
Lib.  iv.,  cap.,  1,  2,  5,  8  to  16;  Lib. 
v.,  Par.  i.,  cap.  1  to  8,  and  Par.  ii., 
cap.  1  to  22 ;  Lib.  vi.,  cap.  1  to  22. 
Published  at  Lisboa,  1605,  4to. 

68  See  John  R.  G.  Hassard’s 
**  History  of  the  United  States  of 
America,”  chap.  ii.  New  York,  1881, 8vo. 

**  See  an  account  of  those  several 
voyages  in  Haklvyt’s  “  Navigations, 
Voyages,”  ftc.  Vol.  i.,  pp.  74  to  108. 


60  He  wrote  a  Tract  or  Discourse 
to  prove  the  existence  of  a  passage 
by  sea  to  the  north-west  leading  to 
Cataia  or  China  and  to  the  East 
Indies.  It  was  published  in  1576, 
and  doubtless  it  induced  Martin 
Frobisher  to  set  out  on  bis  voyage  of 
discovery,  as  it  did  the  author  him¬ 
self  two  years  afterwards. 

61  Again  he  sailed  with  two  frigates 
and  three  brigs,  June  11th,  1583, 
from  Portsmouth,  and  arrived  at  St. 
John’s,  where  he  found  thirty-six 
vessels,  belonging  to  different  nations  ; 

5ret,  he  took  possession  of  Newfound- 
and,  in  the  name  of  the  Queen  of 
England,  notwithstanding  the  pre- 


CONVERSION  OF  THE  INDIANS  TO  CHRISTIANITY. 


23 


scheme  of  exploring  and  colonizing  the  eastern  coast,  of  America  north 
of  the  Gulf  of  Florida.  Having  obtained  the  approbation  of  the 
Queen  and  her  council,  he  fitted  out  two  vessels  at  his  own  expense, 
and  these  sailed  for  North  America  in  the  month  of  April  1584, 63 
under  the  direction  of  his  brother-in-in-law,  Sir  Richard  Grenville.64  He 
landed  in  Virginia  and  took  possession  of  that  territory  which  was 
so  named  in  compliment  to  the  Queen.  Other  colonists  soon  after¬ 
wards  arrived.  Thus  were  the  earliest  settlements  of  the  English  be¬ 
gun  in  Virginia.65  They  were  attended,  however,  with  great  reverses.66 
Afterwards,  Bartholomew  Gosnold,67  Christopher  Newport,68  John 
Smith,69  Henry  Hudson,70  and  some  other  adventurers,  attempted  the 
colonization  of  different  regions  ;  while  the  French,  Dutch  and  Spani¬ 
ards71  were  equally  busied  in  extending  the  authority  of  their 
respective  governments  on  various  parts  of  the  Continent,  during  the 


vious  claim  of  John  Verzzani  and  of 
James  Cartier,  on  behalf  of  France. 
Gilbert  chased  all  the  Portuguese 
from  the  Island,  and  began  to  establish 
penal  laws  to  maintain  the  supremacy 
of  Queen  Elizabeth.  However,  he 
was  obliged  to  leave,  and  in  seeking 
a  return  to  England,  he  perished  in 
a  tempest  at  sea,  the  10th  of  Septem¬ 
ber  1584.  See  Haklvvt’s  “  Principal 
Navigations,”  &c.,  Vol.  i.,sect.  xxxiii. 
to  xxxix. 

62  See  ‘"The  Works  of  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh,  Knight,  now  first  collected;” 
to  which  are  prefixed  the  Lives  of  the 
Author,  by  Oldys,  and  Birch.  Oxford, 
1829,  eight  volumes  8vo. 

63  He  sailed  himself  in  1595  to  the 
West  Indies  and  to  Guianna,  but  he 
soon  returned  to  engage  in  other 
adventures.  See  W'hitehead’s  “  Life 
and  Times  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh.” 
London,  1854,  8vo. 

64  He  sailed  again  April  9th  1585, 
for  the  West  Indies  and  South 
America.  Afterwards,  he  returned  to 
Virginia,  leaving  108  colonists  on 
Roanoke  Island,  and  then  he  sailed 
for  England  the  same  year.  Again, 
he  returned  to  Virginia  a.d.  1586. 
In  a  naval  engagement  with  the 
Spaniards  he  was  killed  a.d.  1588. 
See  Short’s  “  Account  of  the  First 
Settlements  in  Virginia.” 

65  See  Haklvyt’s  “Voyages  of  the 
English  Nation  to  America,”  Vol.  ii. , 
sect,  xxiii.  to  xxxiii. 

66  See  Smith’s  “History  of  Virginia.” 
Book  i. 

b*  in  March  1602,  he  sailed  from 


Falmouth  in  Cornwall,  and  on  the 
14th  of  May  following  he  landed  on 
the  shores  of  the  present  State  of 
Massachusetts.  He  returned  to 

England,  where  he  landed  at  Ex¬ 
mouth,  July  23rd  of  the  same  year. 
Afterwards  he  sailed  for  Virginia, 
where  he  died  a.d.  1607.  See  Rev. 
Dr.  Jeremy  Belknap’s  “  Biographies 
of  the  Early  Discoveries,”  Vol.  i. 
Bartholomew  Gosnold. 

68  He  sailed  from  the  Thames  for 
Virginia  on  the  I9th  December  1606, 
but  he  did  not  arrive  in  Chesapeake 
Bay  until  April  26th,  1607.  Captain 
John  Smith  sailed  in  company  with 
him. 

69  This  very  resolute  and  remark¬ 
able  man  may  be  regarded  as  the 
true  founder  of  the  English  Colony 
in  Virginia.  At  the  request  of  Sir 
Robert  Cotton,  he  published  a.d.  1629 
“  The  True  Travels,  Adventures  and 
Observations  of  Captain  John  Smith.” 
He  died  in  London  a.d.  1631. 

70  After  various  unsuccessful  at¬ 

tempts  to  find  a  north-west  passage, 
he  sailed  from  Amsterdam  on  the 

25th  of  March  1609,  and  reached 

the  eastern  shores  of  the  present 
United  States  the  following  August. 
He  sailed  up  the  Hudson  River  in 
September,  and  gave  name  to  it. 
See  L’Abbe  Prevost’s  “  Histoire 
General  des  Voyages,”  Tomes  xiv.,  xv. 

71  See  that  admirable  work  of  John 

W.  Monette,  M.D.,  “History  of  the 
Discovery  and  Settlement  of  the 

Valley  of  the  Mississippi.”  Vol.  i., 
Books  i.,  ii.,  iii.,  iv.  New  York, 
1846,  8vo. 


24 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


time  of  James  I.72  Especially  Samuel  de  Champlain,  who  entered  the 
St.  Lawrence  for  the  first  time  in  1603,  and  who  founded  Quebec  in 
1608,  laboured  assiduously  dui'ing  many  subsequent  years,  for  the 
interests  of  France.73  Religious  zeal,  not  less  than  commercial  ambi¬ 
tion,74  influenced  the  French  to  colonize  Canada,75  while  the  traders 
and  missionaries  of  France76  penetrated  among  the  Indian  nations  to 
the  north  and  west.  Their  relations  with  those  tribes,  who  were  allied 
to  them,  became  of  a  very  friendly  character  ;  while  the  religious  Fathers 
succeeded  in  bringing  them  over  to  embrace  the  Christian  doctrines 
and  practices.  While  engaged  in  exploring  the  country,  even  to  the 
distant  Mississippi,  the  Jesuits,77  with  other  religious  orders78  converted 
great  numbers  of  the  natives  to  Christianity.79 

When  Champlain  returned  from  France  to  Canada  in  1604,  he 
landed  at  Acadia — formerly  named  Norimbergue — there  he  spent  three 
subsequent  years  in  explorations,  and  in  seconding  the  efforts  of  his 
countrymen  while  founding  colonies  throughout  New  France.  In  the 
former  year,  he  started  from  the  French  settlement  of  St.  Croix,80  at 
the  mouth  of  the  river  so  named,  and  on  the  boundary  line  between  New 
Brunswick  and  Maine.  He  ranged  along  the  western  coast  in  a 
pinnace,  until  he  entered  the  mouth  of  the  Penobscot  River.  On  the 
18th  of  June,  1605,  he  again  set  forth  and  explored  the  whole  northern 
coast  of  New  England  so  far  as  Cape  Ann,  which  he  called  St.  Louis. 
He  then  crossed  to  Cape  Cod,  which  he  named  Cape  Blanc.  However, 
he  did  not  attempt  any  settlement  in  these  places.  On  the  12th  of 
March,  1613,  a  small  French  vessel  commanded  by  La  Saussaye  having 
forty-six  sailors  and  colonists  on  board,  with  two  Jesuits,81  sailed  from 
Honfleur,  and  afterwards  from  Port  Royal.82  After  a  long  delay 


72  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Yol.  i.,  chap, 
ii. ,  iii.,  iv.,  and  Yol.  ii. ,  chap.  xv. 
This  very  complete  and  popular  work 
appeared  at  Boston  in  1834,  when 
t£e  first  8vo  volume  was  published. 
It  was  followed  by  other  volumes 
during  the  various  years  succeeding. 
The  history  of  the  Colonization  of 
the  United  States  is  comprised  in 
the  three  first  volumes. 

73  Sec  Pere  Pierre  Biard’s  “Relation 
de  la  Nouvelle  France,”  Lyon,  1616, 
12mo. 

74  See  John  Gorham  Palfrey’s 
“History  of  New  England,”  Vol.  i., 
chap,  vi.,  and  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  vi., 
xi.  London,  1859,  1861,  8vo. 

75  See  Parkman’s  “  Pioneers  of 
France  in  the  New  World.” 

76  See  “  The  Making  of  New 
England,  1580-1643,”  by  Samuel 
Adams  Drake.  London,  cr.  8vo. 

77  See  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 


United  States,”  Vol.  iii.,  chapter  xx., 
for  a  most  interesting  and  edifying 
account  of  those  missionaries. 

78  See  the  very  interesting  account 
of  Pere  Labat  “  Nouveau  Voyage  aux 
Isles  de  1’Ameriaue.”  Published  at 
the  Hague,  a.d.  1724,  six  vols.  12mo. 

79  See  P.  Paul  Raguenau’s  “  Rela¬ 
tion  de  ce  qui  est  passe  en  la  Mission 
des  Peres  de  la  Compagnie  de  Jesus 
aux  Hurons,  pays  de  la  Nouvelle 
France,  les  annes  1648  et  1649.”  A 
Paris,  a.d.  1650. 

80  Some  priests  are  known  to  have 
served  this  mission. 

81  These  were  Father  Quentin  and 
Brother  du  Thet. 

82  Now  Anapolis  in  Nova  Scotia. 
Here  Fathers  Biard  and  Masse  joined 
the  expedition.  The  former  had 
already  visited  the  Penobscot.  See 
John  Gilmary  Shea’s  “  Catholic 
Church  in  Colonial  Days.”  1521-1763. 
Vol.  i.,  Book  iii.,  chap,  i.,  pp.  216  to  223. 


EARLY  SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  AMERICAN  COLONIES. 


25 


occasioned  by  foggy  weather,  the  crew  steering  for  the  Penobscot 
entered  Frenchman’s  Bay,  on  the  east  side  of  Mount  Desert,  in  the 
present  State  of  Maine.  The  company  went  on  shore,  and  proceeded 
to  form  a  settlement,  which  was  called  St.  Saviour.  Hardly  had  they 
made  a  beginning,  when  a  piratical  expedition  under  the  infamous 
Samuel  Argal  of  Virginia  bore  down  upon  them  with  a  superior  force. 
An  engagement  ensued,  the  colonists  were  defeated,  and  their  settlement 
was  destroyed,83  The  French  Commandant  La  Saussaye,  Father 
Masse  and  some  others  of  the  settlers  were  sent  adrift  in  a  small  bark, 
from  which  they  were  providentially  rescued  by  a  French  fishing  vessel. 
In  this  they  wrere  brought  to  France.  The  other  survivors,  with 
Fathers  Biard  and  Queatin,  were  carried  as  prisoners  to  Virginia. 


CHAPTER  III. 

The  early  Settlement  of  the  American  Colonies — The  Plymouth  and  London 
Companies — Progress  of  Colonization — Vh'ginia — Maine — New  York — New 
England— New  Hampshire — New  Jersey — Delaware — Maryland — Connecticut — 
Rhode  Island — North  Carolina. 

After  the  time  of  Columbus,  the  French  Huguenots  were  the  first 
Europeans  to  build  a  fort,  a.d.  1562,  in  the  present  South  Carolina. 
Under  the  guidance  of  John  Ribaud  or  Ribault,1  they  had  planted 
a  small  colony  at  Port  Royal  Inlet.  By  direction  of  King  Philip  II.  of 
Spain,2  orders  were  transmitted,  that  the  Spaniards  should  destroy 
all  French  settlements  in  those  territories  which  they  claimed.  Under 
the  command  of  Admiral  Pedro  Melendez,  the  Spaniards  marched 
against  the  French  Fort  Caroline,  and  took  it  by  surprise.  Most 
brutally  the  conquerors  put  the  garrison  to  the  sword,  only  a  few 
escaping  from  that  horrible  massacre. 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  sixteenth  century,  various  futile 
attempts  were  made,  especially  by  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  to  colonize 
Virginia.3  The  early  English  settlers — abusing  the  hospitality  of  the 
native  tribes— were  soon  involved  in  war  with  them.  Many  immigrants 


83  Brother  du  Thet  was  killed  in 
this  skirmish.  In  order  to  extirpate 
the  French  Settlements,  Sir  Thomas 
Dale,  Governor  of  Virginia,  sent 
Argal  back  with  a  considerable  force, 
and  having  completed  the  destruction 
of  St.  Saviour,  he  demolished  the 
post  of  the  Croix  Island  and  that  at 
Port  Royal. 

1  In  the  “  Narratio  Regionum  Indi- 


carum  per  Hispanos  devastatarum,” 
published  by  Th.  de  Bry,  a.d.  1590- 
1598,  there  is  a  “Relation  du  Voyage 
de  Capitaine  J.  Ribaud  a  la  Floride.” 

2  See  San  Miguel’s  “  Historia  del 
Rey  D.  Felipe  II.”  Madrid,  1844, 
1845.  In  four  volumes  4to. 

3  See  Robertson’s  “  History  of 
Virginia  and  New  England,”  pub¬ 
lished  in  1796. 


26 


IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


returned  again  to  England,4  while  others  who  had  settled  in  Roanoke 
Island  mysteriously  disappeared,  nor  was  anything  known  concerning 
their  fate.5  An  attempt  made  to  colonize  the  eastern  coast  of  America 
in  1602,  by  Bartholomew  Gosnold,  likewise  proved  a  failure;  although  it 
caused  several  rich  men  in  England  to  form  an  Association,  to  which  in 
1607,  King  James  I.  issued  letters-patent  for  colonizing  and  possessing 
the  northern  territory.  It  was  called  the  Plymouth  Company,  because 
most  of  the  proprietors  lived  in  Plymouth.  A  London  Company  was 
likewise  formed  to  plant  the  more  southern  territory.  However,  no  very 
precise  bounds  were  specified  in  the  respective  grants.  Each  colony 
formed  was  to  be  governed  by  a  resident  council  of  thirteen  members 
nominated  by  the  King,  these  having  power  to  chose  their  president. 
Their  laws  were  subjected  to  revision  by  the  King  or  his  council  in 
England.  It  was  furthermore  required,  that  the  religion  recognised  in 
the  American  colonies  should  only  be  that  of  the  Protestant  Establish¬ 
ment.6 

The  Plymouth  Company’s  expeditions  in  1606,  1607,  and  1608, 
turned  out  to  be  complete  failures.  The  London  Company  despatched 
a  fleet  of  three  small  vessels  in  December,  1606,  and  under  the 
command  of  Captain  Christopher  Newport.7  These  carried  one 
hundred  and  five  colonists,  and  no  women  were  among  them,  for  it  was 
then  difficult  to  recruit  for  settlers.8  After  a  long  voyage — extending 
nearly  to  four  months — their  vessels  entered  Chesapeake  Bay,  April 
26th  1 607.  Sealed  instructions  from  the  Company — opened  after  their 
arrival — had  named  Gosnold  John  Smith,  Wingfield,  Newport,  Ratcliffe, 
Martin  and  Kendall  members  of  the  Council.  These  elected  Wingfield 
as  their  President.  In  May,  the  site  selected  for  their  settlement  was  on 
King’s  River,  as  then  called;  afterwards,  it  was  known  as  James  River, 
in  honour  of  the  reigning  monarch  of  England  who  had  favoured 
their  enterprise.9  Soon  afterwards,  Newport,  returned  to  England  with 
the  ships,  and  leaving  in  Virginia  a  party,  among  whom  discontent  and 
factious  feelings  began  to  prevail.10  The  colonists  were  afterwards 
exposed  to  many  and  great  perils.  Several  of  those  were  idle  gentlemen 


4  Tobacco  was  first  brought  to 
England  from  Virginia  when  the 
voyagers  returned.  It  is  well  known 
James  I.  was  so  much  opposed  to  the 
use  of  this  weed,  that  he  wrote 
the  famous  “  Counterblast  against 
Tobacco.’ 

5  See  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  “Voyage 
to  Virginia,  1585,”  small  fob,  with 
a  large  Map  and  many  curious  plates, 
published  in  1588. 

6  See  Arthur  Wilson’s  “  Life  and 
Reign  of  King  James  the  First,  King 
o?  Great  Britain.” 

7  See  Rev.  Jeremy  Belknap’s  “  Bio 

graphies  of  the  Early  Discoveries,”  Vol.  ii. 


8  See  Smith’s  “  History  of  Virginia,” 
Book  vi. 

9  For  an  excellent  account  of  the 
colonization  of  Virginia,  the  student 
is  referred  to  George  Bancroft’s 
“  History  of  the  United  States,  from 
the  Discovery  of  the  American 
Continent,”  Vol.  i.,  chap.  iv.  The 
nineteenth  edition  of  this  admirable 
work,  published  in  Boston,  1862,  et 
seq.,  is  that  generally  quoted  through¬ 
out  the  present  volume. 

10  See  R.  Beverley’s  “  History  and 
Present  State  of  Virginia,”  published 
1705,  8vo. 


I 


PROGRESS  OF  COLONIZATION. 


27 


and  vagabonds,  little  disposed  to  engage  in  manual  labour.  Their  hopes 
were  chiefly  directed  to  discover  gold,  and  the  tillage  of  land  was 
neglected,  so  that  fandne  soon  began  to  threaten  them.  In  1G07, 
Jamestown  was  founded  by  Captain  John  Smith,  who  began  to  acquire 
an  ascendancy,  owing  to  his  energetic  and  resolute  character.  His 
adventures  were  indeed  remarkable.  He  made  several  excursions  from 
Jamestown,  and  in  one  of  these  he  was  captured  by  the  Indians,  who 
led  him  from  one  village  to  another,  until  he  was  brought  to  a  powerful 
chief  named  Powhatan.  He  was  ordered  for  instant  execution,  but  at 
that  moment,  the  chief’s  young  daughter,  Pocahontas,  interceded  for 
his  life.  This  was  spared,  and  he  returned  to  Jamestown  after  an 
absence  of  seven  weeks,  only  to  find  the  colonists  in  extreme  misery.11 

In  1G08,  Smith  was  regularly  elected  as  President  of  the  Council,  and 
under  his  management  matters  were  better  arranged,  but  he  soon  departed 
for  England  and  did  not  return.12  He  left  behind  him  four  hundred 
and  ninety  colonists,  but  in  six  months  only  sixty  remained.  In  June 
1610,  the  survivors,  besieged  by  the  natives,  resolved  on  abandoning 
Jamestown.13  In  .some  small  vessels  they  embarked  for  Newfoundland, 
but  they  met  a  fleet  coming  to  their  aid  from  England.  On  board  was 
Lord  I)e  la  Warr — otherwise  Delaware — who  had  been  appointed 
Governor  of  Virginia  for  life,  under  a  new  charter  granted  to  the  London 
Company.  He  brought  a  large  number  of  colonists,  together  with  an 
abundance  of  supplies.  The  departing  settlers  then  returned,  when  lands 
were  distributed  amongst  them  and  among  the  new  arrivals.  Meantime, 
Pocahontas  had  been  treacherously  captured  by  Captain  Argali  after  the 
departure  of  Captain  Smith,  and  lie  shamelessly  demanded  a  ransom 
from  her  father.  This  was  indignantly  refused.14  In  captivity,  however, 
she  was  baptized,  taking  the  name  of  Rebecca,  and  she  married  John 
Rolfe,  one  of  the  colonists,  who  took  her  to  England.  There  she  was 
presented  at  Court.  When  about  returning  to  America,  Pocahontas 
died  suddenly,  but  she  left  a  son  who  became  the  ancestor  of  a  distin¬ 
guished  family  in  Virginia. 

The  condition  of  aftairs  henceforward  improved  ;  industrious  pursuits 
began  to  engage  the  attention  of  the  new  settlers ;  plantations  were 
commenced  near  the  James  River  ;  while  respectable  young  women  were 
sent  out  from  England,  who  became  wives  to  the  planters.  However, 


"Under  the  name  of  Th.  Watson, 
Gent.,  he  wrote  an  interesting  per¬ 
sonal  narrative  thus  intituled :  “  A 
Trve  Relation  of  such  Occurrences 
and  Accidents  of  Noate  as  hath 
hapned  in  Virginia,  since  the  first 
Planting  of  that  Colony  which  is  now 
resident  in  the  South  Part  thereof, 
till  the  last  Returne  from  thence, 
written  by  Th.  Watson,  Gent.,  one 
of  the  said  Collony,  to  a  worshipful 
Friend  of  his  in  England.”  London, 
1608,  4to. 


12  See  Captain  John  Smith’s  “His¬ 
toric  of  Virginia,  New  England,  and 
the  Summer  Isles,”  published  in  1627, 
sm.  fol. 

13  See  S.  Clark’s  “  Description  of 
the  Wbrld,  America  described,  Vir¬ 
ginia,  Florida,  Jamaica,  Narratives 
of  the  Inhumane  Cruelties  on  the 
Indians  in  America,”  published  in 
1657,  sm.  fol. 

14  See  “  A  True  Discourse  of  the 
present  State  of  Virginia,”  by  Raphe 
Hamor,  p.  4. 


28 


IR1SH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Lord  Deleware  was  obliged  to  return  home,  leaving  Percy  in  command. 
Sir  Thomas  Pale  soon  afterwards  arrived  with  fresh  men  and  supplies. 
The  latter  ruled  as  Governor  for  some  time,  when  on  his  departure, 
a.d.  16i6,  the  arbitrary  and  tyrannical  Captain  Argali  succeeded  to  the 
government.  At  length,  so  many  complaints  regarding  him  reached 
the  Company,15  that  he  was  superseded,  and  Sir  George  Yeardley  was 
elected  Governor.  The  colonists  began  to  demand  a  constitution  more 
in  accord  with  their  British  origin,  and  accordingly  the  Company 
authorised  the  new  Governor  not  only  to  form  a  council  but  to  convene 
delegates,  who  with  them  and  himself  should  constitute  a  representative 
assembly.  Nevertheless,  the  Company  in  a  new  constitution  controlled 
the  representatives,  by  reserving  to  itself  a  negative  on  their  decisions. 

The  coast  of  Maine  had  been  visited  by  Captain  George  Weymouth 
in  1605,  and  he  carried  off  five  Indians  by  fraud  and  force.  On  returning 
to  England,  he  represented  how  suitable  that  country  should  be  for 
settlement.  Accordingly,  in  1607  the  Plymouth  Company  sent  out  two 
ships  commanded  by  Sir  George  Popham  and  llaleigh  Gilbert,  son  to 
Sir  Humphry,  with  a  crew  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  persons,  who 
settled  near  the  mouth  of  the  Kennebec.  The  winter  was  intensely  cold, 
and  their  stores  were  soon  consumed.16  Next,  year  this  settlement  was 
abandoned,  while  Sir  George  Popham  died  in  Maine.17  His  nephew. 
Sir  Francis,  sent  out  other  expeditions  at  his  own  private  expense,  but 
these  were  all  unsuccessful.  In  1617  a  French  vessel  was  wrecked  near 
Cape  Cod,  and  all  who  reached  the  shore,  except  three,  were  massacred 
by  the  Indians.  The  survivors  were  sent  from  one  sachem  to  another 
in  triumph.  Two  sank  victims  to  disease,  as  a  consequence  of  their 
trials  and  hardships.  The  thii  d,  supposed  to  have  been  a  priest,  lived 
longer,  and  he  endeavoured  to  convert  the  Indians  from  vice,  but  their 
obdurate  hearts  were  proof  against  all  his  appeals.ls 

The  State  of  New  York  was  first  founded  by  the  Dutch,  who  com¬ 
menced  in  1614  the  building  of  Albany  on  the  Hudson  River,  having 
first  erected  in  1613  a  temporary  fort  on  Manhattan  Island,  the  present 
site  for  the  City  of  New  York.19  The  Dutch  claimed  all  that  coast  from 
New  Jersey  to  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  and  it  was  called  New  Netherland  on 
the  strength  of  Hudson’s  discoveries.  The  settlers  kept  up  a  friendly 
Intercourse  with  those  Indians  adjoining  the  Hudson  River,  and  com¬ 
menced  a  trade  in  furs.  The  merchants  engaged  in  this  traffic  were 
afterwards  incorporated  in  1621,  under  the  designation  of  the  Dutch 
West  India  Company,  and  with  powers  of  government  for  that  colony. 


15  See  Hugh  Murray’s  “United 
States  of  America ;  their  History 
from  the  earliest  Period,  etc.”  Vol. 
i.,  chap.  iv.  In  three  Volumes. 
Edinburgh,  1844,  cr.  8vo. 

16  See  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
United  States.”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  viii., 
pp.  267  to  269. 

17  See  “A  Brief  Relation  of  the 


Discovery  and  Plantation  of  New 
England,”  by  the  President  and 
Councell.  London,  1622. 

18  See  Fitton’s  “  Sketches  of  the 
Establishment  of  the  Church  in  New 
England.” 

19  See  “History  of  New  York,  the 
First  Peopling  of  America.”  1821, 
two  vols.  8vo. 


PROGRESS  OF  COLONIZATION. 


29 


During  the  reign  of  James  I.,  the  laws  against  recusancy  on  the  part 
of  English  and  Irish  Catholics  coercing  them  to  conform  and  adopt  the 
Reformed  worship  were  most  tyrannically  and  arbitrarily  enforced  by 
fines  and  imprisonment.  Those  laws  were  also  levelled  against  Protestant 
Independents  and  Separatists  from  the  Church  established  by  law.  Those 
outrageous  enactments  were  endured  with  courage  and  constancy, 
especially  in  Ireland;  but  they  furnished  a  motive  for  seeking  in  more 
distant  lands  a  place  of  refuge  and  of  peace  in  securing  the  rights  of 
conscience.20  Although  the  Reformation  involved  an  extensive  exercise 
of  private  judgment,  yet  it  was  not  accompanied  by  any  express  recog¬ 
nition  of  that  right,  or  of  any  general  principle  sanctioning  toleration.21 
Wherefore,  the  prevalence  of  sectarian  bigotry,  party  and  political 
exclusiveness  in  older  England  urged  several  Puritans  to  embark  for 
New  England,  and  to  make  it  the  country  of  their  future  abode.  These 
inclined  to  Calvinistic  dogmas  and  practices.  Those  sectaries  were  so 
called,  because  they  refused  to  acknowledge  the  established  form  of 
worship,  which  they  said  retained  too  many  Romish  ceremonies  and 
practices.22  Many  of  them  fled  to  Holland,  thus  hoping  to  escape 
the  penalties  enforced  for  recusancy.  In  1617  they  sent 
a  deputation  to  England  offering  assent  to  the  doctrines  of  its  EstaB- 
lished  Church,  although  unwilling  to  adopt  its  forms  of  worship 
provided  they  were  allowed  a  patent  for  settling  in  America.  They 
failed  in  their  efforts,  notwithstanding,  but  afterwards  some  London 
merchants  opened  negociations  with  them,  for  establishing  there  a 
trading,  fishing,  and  planting  company.23 

The  Puritan  pilgrim  fathers  sailed  from  Southampton,  and  arrived  in 
the  “  May  Flower  ”  on  December  25th,  old  style,  1620,  to  find  the  present 
site  of  Plymouth24  in  the  State  of  Massachusetts  covered  with  snow*. 
There  a  town  was  built,  after  the  lapse  of  a  few  j’ears,  and  it  is  the 
oldest  in  New  England.  The  first  settlers  suffered  incredible  hardships, 
while  half  the  number  of  one  hundred  and  two,  men,  women,  and 
children,  perished  during  that  winter  and  the  following  spring.25  Among 
these  was  the  governor,  John  Carver,  whom  the  colonists  had  chosen 
before  landing.26  During  the  spring,  a  friendly  Indian  named  Samoset, 


20  See  Ogilby’s  “  America,”  Book  ii., 
chap.  ii.  London,  1671,  fol. 

21  See  Hugh  Murray’s  “United 
States  of  America ;  their  History 
from  the  earliest  Period.”  Vol.  i., 
chap,  vi.,  p.  182. 

22  See  Daniel  Neal’s  “  History  of 
the  Puritans,  or  Protestant  Non-Con¬ 
formists  :  from  the  Reformation  to  the 
Death  of  Queen  Elizabeth,”  &c. 
Published  in  1732-33-36-38,  four  vols., 
8vo.  ;  also  republished  in  1754,  in 
two  vols.,  4to,  Dublin. 

23  For  a  particular  account  of  the 
settlement  of  New  England,  the 


reader  is  referred  to  Bancroft’s 
“  History  of  the  United  States,”  vol. 
i.,  chap,  viii.,  ix. 

24  Bartholomew  Gosnold  had  already 
touched  there,  but  he  made  no  settle¬ 
ment.  Oldmixton’s  “  British  Empire 
in  America,”  Vol.  i. 

25  In  1625-6  appeared  Samuel  Pur- 
chas’  “  Pilgrims,”  in  five  books  and 
in  five  vols.,  fob,  London.  This  worX 
gives  a  very  complete  account  of  the 
early  New  England  colony. 

26  See  Cotton  Mather’s  “  Antiquities 
and  History  of  New  England,  Lives 
of  Divines,  Acts  and  Monuments  of 


30 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


and  another  called  Squanto,  brought  a  powerful  chief  Massasoit  to  them, 
when  a  treaty  of  friendship  and  alliance  was  formed.  William  Bradford 
was  now  elected  governor,  and  in  November,  1621,  the  ship  “  Fortune  ” 
arrived,  bringing  a  reinforcement  of  thirty-five  persons,  with  a  patent  for 
the  colony.  A  plentiful  harvest  succeeded  in  1622,  while  other  emigrants 
arrived  during  that  year.  A  settlement  was  made  at  Wessagusset — now 
Weymouth,  near  Boston — but  the  misconduct  of  the  settlers  caused  the 
Indians  to  conspire  for  their  destruction.  However,  Massasoit  gave 
warning  of  this  plot  in  good  time,  and  Captain  Miles  Standish  marched 
from  New  Plymouth  with  eight  men  to  Wessagusset,  where  he  alarmed 
the  settlers,  who  were  now  sufficiently  on  their  guard.  That  settlement 
was  soon  afterwards  abandoned.  Gradually  the  number  of  immigrants 
began  to  increase,  and  within  ten  years  about  21,000  had  arrived  in  198 
vessels.  Dissensions  and  religious  differences  next  began  to  prevail ;  so 
that  those  who  differed  in  opinion  from  the  older  settled  Puritans  were 
exposed  to  insults  and  persecution.  As  a  consequence,  several  voluntarily 
left  that  colony,  or  were  banished  from  it  by  order  of  the  other 
colonists. 

From  the  Council  of  New  England,  Sir  Ferdinand  Gorges  and  John 
Mason  obtained  a  grant  of  territory  between  the  Rivers  Merrimac  and 
Kennebec,  in  1621.  This  they  named  Laconia,27  and  they  also  formed  a 
company  of  merchants,  who  sent  thither  a  colony  of  fishermen  the 
following  year.  In  1623,  the  first  English  settled  at  Dover  and  Ports¬ 
mouth,  in  New  Hampshire.  Gorges  and  Mason  divided  their  grant; 
the  former  taking  the  land  east  of  the  Piscataqua,  which  he  named  New 
Somerset,28  while  the  latter  took  lands  lying  to  the  west,  and  this 
division  he  named  New  Hampshire.  The  progress  of  this  colony  was 
slow,  few  settlers  arriving  in  it.  In  1629,  Mason  obtained  a  fresh 
patent  for  his  portion,  and  again  in  1635,  when  the  partnership  with 
Gorges  was  dissolved.  He  died  in  1638,  and  his  family  derived  little 
benefit  afterwards  from  his  extensive  donation.29.  When  the  company 
had  broken  up,  Sir  Ferdinand  procured  for  himself  that  whole 
territory  from  the  New  Hampshire  line  to  the  Kennebec,  and  in  1639 
a  patent  for  it  from  the  king  was  obtained.  It  then  received  the  de¬ 
nomination  of  Maine.  From  1619  to  1624,  the  French  Recollects  or 
Observantine  Franciscan  Fathers,  from  their  central  mission  on  the 
River  St.  John,  occasionally  extended  their  labours  to  the  Penobscot. 
This  mission,  however,  was  abandoned  in  1624.  The  Danes,  moreover, 
settled  at  Bergen,  in  New  Jersey,  during  this  year.  The  Swedes  also 
made  early  settlements  in  the  county  of  Salem,  where  some  of  their 
descendants  long  remained,  and  where  names  of  places  given  by  them 

the  Church,  Wars,  Wonderful  Provi-  United  States,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  ix  , 
den'ces  on  divers  Persons  in  New  pp.  327,  328. 

England.”  This  curious  work,  in  28  This  tract  was  afterwards  in- 
Seven  Bookes,  was  published  in  eluded  in  the  State  of  Maine. 

London,  a.d.  1702,  in  one  Vol.  fob  29  See  Belknap’s  “History  of  New 
27  See  Bancroft’s  “History  of  the  Hampshire,”  Vol.  i. 


COLONIZATION  OF  MARYLAND. 


31 


are  still  retained.30  The  Swedes  and  Finlanders  settled  at  Cape  Hen- 
lopen,  in  Delaware,  a.d.  1627,  encouraged  by  their  celebrated  king 
Gustavus  Adolphus.  The  Dutch  governor  of  the  New  Netherlands, 
William  Kieft,  protested  against  their  settlement  as  infringing  on  his 
jurisdiction,  but  this  was  not  followed  by  any  hostile  demonstration. 

Influenced  by  his  queen  Henrietta  Maria,  Charles  I.  King  of  Eng¬ 
land  granted  that  tract,  now  known  as  Maryland,31  to  Sir  George 
Calvert32  the  Secretary  of  State  under  James  I.  and  an  eminent  states¬ 
man.33  lie  was  then  created  an  Irish  peer,  and  titled  Lord  Baltimore. 
This  grant  gave  him  an  extensive  region,  which  the  colonists  of  Vir¬ 
ginia  considered  to  be  their  own.  It  extended  from  the  southern  bank 
of  the  Potomac  River  northwards  to  the  40th  degree  of  latitude,34  It 
thus  included  the  upper  part  of  Chesapeake  Bay,  and  the  whole  of 
Delaware  Bay.  The  terms  of  his  charter  could  only  be  obtained  by 
a  court  favourite.  Ample  powers  were  conferred  in  it  to  be  exercised 
by  the  proprietor,  with  the  assent  of  freemen  or  their  deputies, 
whose  assembly  was  to  be  selected  and  formed  as  he  thought  best. 
In  case  of  emergencies,  when  there  was  no  time  for  calling  them 
together,  Lord  Baltimore  could  himself  make  “  tit  and  wholesome 
ordinances,”  which  were  “  to  be  inviolably  observed.”  He  might  also 
train,  muster,  and  call  out  troops,  as  also  exercise  all  the  functions  of 
captain-general.  In  case  of  rebellion  or  sedition,  he  had  power  to 
proclaim  martial  law.  Likewise,  the  nomination  of  the  judges,  and  of 
all  other  officers,  was  reserved  to  him.  Notwithstanding  the  high 
claims  regarding  royal  prerogative  and  privileges  at  home,  Charles 
reserved  neither  the  law-making  nor  the  taxing  powers  ;  he  only  claimed 
mines  where  discovered  as  royalties.  But  one  of  the  most  ingenious 
clauses — evidently  suggested  by  Lord  Baltimore  himself — empowered 
him  to  found  churches  and  chapels  “  according  to  the  ecclesiastical  law 
of  England.”  This  was  intended  to  blind  the  public  there,  but  in 
reality,  it  was  projected  to  promote  religious  toleration  for  all  creeds.35 
Thus,  Lord  Baltimore  the  proprietor  was  able  to  boast  that  Maryland 
had  become  a  separate  monarchy.30  Before  the  patent  was  completed, 
however,  that  nobleman  died.  Then  it  was  given  to  his  eldest  son 
Cecil,  who  succeeded  to  his  titles,  and  who  applied  to  the  task  of  founding 
his  colony,  resolving  to  place  it  solely  on  an  agricultural!  basis.  He 
proclaimed,  that  every  colonist  who  carried  out  five  persons,  male  or 
female,  and  paying  their  expenses — estimated  at  £20  each — was  to 


30  See  “  The  Popular  Encyclopaedia  ; 
or  Conversations  Lexicon,”  Vol.  v., 
Art.,  New  Jersey. 

31  In  compliment  to  the  queen,  that 
colony  was  so  called. 

32  See  an  account  of  him  in  Wood’s 
“  Athenae  Oxonienses,”  pp.  522,  523. 

33  He  had  become  a  Catholic,  and, 
as  a  consequence,  he  was  afterwards 
excluded  from  office. 


34  For  particulars  of  the  coloniza¬ 
tion  of  Maryland,  the  reader  may 
consult  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
United  States,”  Vol.  i.,  chap.  vii. 

35  This  Charter  is  in  the  British 
Museum,  and  although  without  title- 
page,  it  is  dated  20th  June,  8th  year 
of  Charles  I.,  which  means  a.d.  1632. 

36  See  Hugh  Murray’s  “  United 
States  of  America,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  v., 
pp.  144  to  146. 


32 


IRISH-AM  r.KICAN  HISTOL.Y  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


receive  1,000  acres.  Those  who  defrayed  their  own  charges  were  to  obtain 
100  acres  for  themselves,  and  the  same  quantity  of  land  for  each  adult 
member  of  their  family,  or  for  children  under  six  years  50  acres.  For 
each  100  acres  a  rent  of  2s.  was  charged.  Care  was  taken  chiefly  to 
select  English  and  Irish  Catholics  as  adventurers  in  this  expedition.37 

Notwithstanding,  Cecil  Lord  Baltimore  did  not  then  visit  the 
colony ;  but  his  brother  Leonard  Calvert  sailed  in  a  large  vessel, 
November  1633,  with  about  200  persons  on  board,  and  the  February 
succeeding  he  reached  Point  Comfort  in  Virginia.  There  he  entered  the 
Potomac,  in  the  month  of  March  1634.  He  then  sailed  up  the  river  to 
Piscataqua,38  but,  on  reflection,  he  returned  to  a  tributary,  then  named 
St.  George.  There  he  chose  th®  present  site  of  St.  Mary  for  his  first 
settlement.  By  the  natives,  those  white  strangers  "were  hospitably 
received,  and  not  only  did  they  obtain  lands  for  settlements,  but  they 
were  supplied  with  provisions  in  exchange  for  articles  of  very  trivial 
value.39  For  a  great  number  of  years  succeeding,  this  friendly  inter¬ 
course  was  maintained.  In  the  year  1633,  the  family  of  Neale,  with 
several  others  from  Ireland,  emigrated  with  Leonard  Calvert,  brother  to 
Lord  Baltimore.40  Having  thus  commenced  the  settlement  of  this  State, 
Lord  Baltimore  appointed  Leonard  Calvert  his  brother  as  governor.  For 
over  forty  years,  however,  Lord  Baltimore  directed  the  affairs  of  that 
colony.  A  free  toleration  of  religion  there  caused  Protestants,  who  were 
persecuted  for  conscience  sake  by  other  Protestant  sects,  to  take  refuge 
in  Maryland.  When  its  General  Assembly  was  constituted,  the  right 
of  appointing  the  governor,  and  of  approving  or  of  disapproving  its 
legislative  acts,  was  reserved  to  the  family  of  Lord  Baltimore.  It  was 
continued  with  some  short  interruptions  to  the  period  of  the  Revolution. 

Meantime,  in  the  more  northern  parts  of  the  Continent,  the  French 
were  singularly  successful  in  establishing  their  power  and  influence. 
Especially  they  cultivated  friendly  relations  with  the  Indians,  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  their  settlements,  while  they  brought  many  of  them 
to  embrace  the  Christian  religion.41  The  French  missions  in  Maine 
were  restored  in  1630,  and  a  Capuchin  mission  was  established  on  the 
Kennebec  in  1643. 

A  Dutch  navigator,  Adrian  Block,  had  discovered  the  Housatonic 
and  Connecticut  Rivers  in  1614,  and  people  of  their  nation  afterwards 
began  to  trade  with  Indians,  living  on  the  shores  of  Long  Island  Sound. 
They  purchased  land  from  the  natives,  and  they  built  Fort  Good  Hope 
on  the  Connecticut,  near  the  present  site  of  Hartford.  They  were  soon 


37  The  second  Lord  Baltimore  states, 
that  he  spent  upon  this  project 
£20,000  of  his  own  money,  and  an 
equal  sum  raised  among  his  friends. 

38  Then  an  Indian  settlement,  nearly 
opposite  the  present  Mount  Vernon. 

39  In  1634  was  published  in  London, 
“  Relation  of  the  successful  Beginnings 
of  Lord  Baltimore’s  Plantation.”  In 


1635  appeared  likewise  in  London, 
“A  Relation  of  Maryland.”  The 
general  statements  contained  in  the 
text  are  set  forth  in  greater  detail  in 
those  tracts  here  mentioned. 

40  Scharf’s  “  Chronicles  of  Balti¬ 
more,”  a.d.  1874. 

41  See  Charlevoix’s  “  Histoire  General 
de  la  Nouvelle  France,”  Tome  i. 


COLONIZATION  IN  NEW  ENGLAND. 


33 


disturbed,  however,  by  the  arrival  of  other  intruders  from  New 
England,  and  they  were  obliged  to  surrender  their  claims.  The 
English  thereupon  began  the  settlement  cf  Connecticut  at  Windsor,  in 
the  year  1633.  It  was  hoped,  that  here  an  advanced  station  might  be 
formed,  to  check  the  troublesome  incursions  of  the  Pequod  Indians.42 
Much  about  the  same  time,  those  English  colonists  from  New 
Plymouth  proceeded  to  claim  all  that  tract  of  country.  Soon  a  large 
reinforcement  arrived,  when  settlements  were  formed  at  Hartford  and 
Wethersfield.  Meanwhile,  a  company  of  lords  proprietors  in  England 
obtained  a  grant  of  all  that  coast,  extending  one  hundred  and  twenty 
miles  west  of  Narragansett  Bay,  and  which  embraced  the.  whole  of 
Connecticut,  with  the  greater  part  of  Rhode  Island.  A  fort  was  built 
and  named  Saybrook — after  Lord  Say  and  Lord  Brook,  two  of  the 
proprietors —  and  it  was  erected  at  the  mouth  of  the  Connecticut  River. 

In  June,  1636,  arrived  a  caravan  of  about  one  hundred  immigrants, 
led  by  Thomas  Hooker,  “  The  Light  of  the  Western  Churches,”  and  in 
the  Puritanical  phraseology  of  the  time,  “  a  son  of  Thunder.”43  A 
party  of  strict  English  Nonconformists,  dissatisfied  with  the  Puritan 
tenets  in  the  Massachusetts  colony,  left  Boston  under  the  Rev. 
John  Davenport,  and  these  founded  New  Haven  in  1638.  Those 
sectaries  resolved  to  have  no  legislation  except  what  they  could 
find  in  the  Bible,  while  they  admitted  none  but  members  of  their 
sect  to  share  in  the  government.  Hence  emanated  the  Blue  Laws, 
which  were  so  designated,  on  account  of  their  excessive  rigour.  Accord¬ 
ing  to  those  colonists,  each  one  of  their  villages  and  congregations 
was  a  house  of  wisdom,  resting  on  its  seven  pillars,  and.  aspiring  to  be 
illumined  by  the  Eternal  Light.  They  also  prepared  for  the  second 
coming  of  Christ,  which  was  then  confidently  expected.44  After  some 
time,  the  colonists  in  those  parts  crossed  over  the  bay,  and  they  planted 
various  settlements  in  Long  Island.  Wherever  they  went,  churches 
were  erected  on  the  model  of  the  Independents.45  However,  the 
Indians  combined  and  attacked  their  settlements.  But  under  the  com¬ 
mand  of  John  Mason,  the  Pequods’  chief  fort  was  burned,  when  about 
six  hundred  of  the  natives,  men,  women,  and  children,  perished  in  the 
flames,  or  were  ruthlessly  cut  down  by  the  English  weapons.46  Having 


42  See  Trumbull’s  “  History  of  Con¬ 
necticut,”  Vol.  i.,  chap.  iv. 

43  According  to  Nathaniel  Morton’s 
account,  pp  239,  240.  He  wrote 
“  New  England’s  Memorial ;  or,  a 
Brief  Relation  of  the  most  Memorable 
and  Remarkable  Passages  of  the 
Providence  of  God  manifested  in  the 
Planters  of  New  England  in  America, 
with  Special  Reference  to  the  first 
Colony  thereof,  called  New  Pli- 
mouth ;  ”  &c.  This  was  printed  at 
Cambridge,  N.E.,  a.d.,  1669,  in  sm. 
4to.  It  was  reprinted  in  London,  the 


same  year ;  and  in  Boston,  1721, 
12  mo.  Supp.  by  Josiah  Cotton. 
Another  edition  appeared  at  Newport, 
1772,  12  mo.  In  1680,  the  same 
writer  published  “  A  Brief  Ecclesias¬ 
tical  History  of  the  Church  at  Plymouth.” 

44  See  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
United  States,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  ix., 
pp.  403,  404. 

43  See  James  Grahame’s  “  History 
of  North  America,”  Vol.  i.,  Book 
iii. ,  chap.  ii. 

46  See  E.  R.  Potter’s  “  Early 
History  of  Narragansett,”  p.  24. 

D 


34  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

met  in  convention  at  Hartford  in  1639,  a  written  constitution  was 
adopted  by  those  settlers  for  the  colony  of  Connecticut.  A  committee 
of  twelve  was  selected,  to  chose  seven  men,  qualified  to  be  framers  of 
their  government.  Among  the  latter  were  Theophilus  Eaton  their 
Governor  and  Rev.  John  Davenport,  with  all  of  those  alluded  to  as  the 
Seven  Pillars  for  the  new  House  of  Wisdom  in  the  wilderness. 

In  New  England,  it  must  be  acknowledged,  various  arbitrary  and 
oppressive  enactments  were  issued  by  the  colonial  government  ;47  and 
as  a  matter  of  course,  miserable  and  unhappy  consequences  ensued.48 
The  whole  power,  legislative  and  executive,  had  been  vested  in  a 
governor,  deputy-governor  and  thirteen  assistants,  to  be  chosen  by 
members  of  the  Company,  according  to  their  original  charter.  These 
were  to  meet  at  least  four  times  a  year,  to  decide  on  all  important 
concerns.  However,  when  the  sittings  of  the  Company  had  been 
transferred  to  America,  the  members  were  held  to  be  the  entire  body  of 
settlers,  limited  only  by  the  spiritual  qualification  of  Church  member¬ 
ship.  The  government  of  the  colony  now  assumed  the  characteristics 
of  a  pure  democracy,  while  the  freemen  elected  all  their  executive 
officers  and  exercised  supreme  legislative  functions.  A  meeting  of 
two  deputies  from  each  township  was  arranged,  to  assist  in  framing 
laws,  which  nevertheless  displayed  an  aristocratic  and  arbitrary 
tendency.  New  England  thus  virtually  became  a  representative 
republic.49  Although  professing  to  leave  England  in  order  to  enjoy 
religious  freedom,  the  Puritans  became  most  intollerant  to  those  who 
differed  from  them  in  creed,  when  they  had  formed  their  new  settle¬ 
ments.50  The  King  and  English  Government  were  anxious  to  promote 
prelacy  and  conformity  to  the  Established  Church  ;  but  the  colonists 
inclined  rather  to  the  teachings  of  Calvin,  and  constituted  every 
congregation  with  the  ministers  and  elders  of  its  own  election  inde¬ 
pendent  of  all  other  ecclesiastical  power.  They  framed  laws  regarding 
doctrine  and  discipline,  to  which  their  people  required  to  conform.51 
On  mere  suspicion  of  being  a  papist,  Sir  Robert  Gardiner  was  sum¬ 
marily  seized  and  sent  out  of  the  colony,  without  any  form  of  trial  in 
1631.  Their  severe  restrictions  also  pressed  heavily  on  Protestant 
Episcopalians,  and  remonstrances  were  addressed  to  the  King  and 
his  Council ;  but,  the  dissensions  now  arising  between  Charles  I.  and 
his  Parliament  stayed  further  proceedings.  However,  strange  doctrines 


47  See  Burnet’s  “  Collection  of  Papers 
relating  to  the  present  Junction  of 
Affairs  in  England,”  1689,  4to. 

48  See  a  narrative  in  the  sixth 
collection  of  the  work  previously  quoted. 

49  See  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
United  States,”  Yol.  i.,  chap,  viii., 
pp.  322,  323. 

50  “  Seldom  has  religious  tyranny 
assumed  a  form  more  oppresive  than 
among  the  Puritan  exiles.  New 
England  Protestantism  appealed  to 


liberty :  then  closed  the  door  against 
her.” — Parkman’s  “  Pioneers  of  France 
in  the  New  World,”  p.  396. 

51  Thomas  Hutchinson,  ll.d.,  wrote 
a  “  History  of  the  Colony  of  Mas¬ 
sachusetts-Bay,  from  the  first  Settle¬ 
ment  thereof  in  1628  until  its  incor¬ 
poration  with  the  Colony  of  Ply¬ 
mouth,  Province  of  Main.”  The 
second  edition  of  this  work  in  two 
volumes  appeared  in  London,  1760-8, 
8vo. 


COLONIZATION  OP  THE  CAROLINAS. 


35 


and  teachers  soon  appeared,  while  fanaticism  urged  these  zealots,  to 
spread  their  opinions  broadcast  throughout  the  colony.  Many  who 
approved  the  principles  and  practices  of  prelacy  and  royalty  left  New 
England,  and  returned  to  the  mother  country. 

The  sectarian  intolerance  of  the  Puritans  in  New  England  drove 
Roger  Williams,  a  young  minister  of  Salem,  and  those  who  adopted  his 
doctrinal  views,  to  a  wild  tract,  where  they  commenced  in  1636  the 
erection  of  a  town  called  Providence,  now  the  capital  of  Rhode  Island. 
He  proscribed  all  human  learning,  as  a  preparation  for  the  work  of  the 
Christian  ministry,  and  he  abominated  the  very  name  of  scholar  in  a 
Divine  sense,  or  colleges  as  “  seminaries  of  hirelings  and  of  mystical 
merchants.”  62  He  fled  to  the  wilderness  in  mid-winter,  and  there  he' 
found  kind  treatment  from  Massasoit,  the  Indian  chief.  Williams  set 
up  the  first  congregation  of  Baptists  in  America,  and  established  his 
colony  as  a  simple  democracy.  All  laws  were  enacted  there  by  the 
votes  of  the  majority.  At  last  in  1643,  he  obtained  a  charter  from 
England,  and  thus  was  formed  the  colony  of  Rhode  Island.  Moreover, 
the  same  Roger  Williams,  who  has  so  often  been  held  up  as  the  father 
of  religious  toleration  in  America,  declared  the  cross  to  be  “  a  relic  of 
Antichrist,  a  popish  symbol,  and  not  to  be  countenanced  by  Christian 
men.”  In  the  height  of  their  zeal,  his  followers  actually  cut  the  cross 
out  of  the  English  flag,  refusing  to  march  or  live  under  anything  that 
bore  the  symbol  of  man’s  Redemption.  Gradually  settlers  were  at¬ 
tracted  to  him,  although  it  may  well  be  doubted,  if  Williams  fulfilled 
in  aotion  his  expressed  desire,  that  Providence  “might  be  a  shelter 
for  persons  distressed  for  conscience.”  53 

At  first,  under  the  name  of  Florida,  had  been  included  the  present 
North  and  South  Carolina.  Both  the  Carolinas  were  so.  called 
from  the  reigning  Spanish  monarch  Charles  IX.  North  Carolina 
was  first  settled  by  the  English,  in  the  year  1650,  at  Albemarle. 
Their  settlers  came  from  Virginia.  So  early  as  1630,  Sir  Robert 
Heath  had  obtained  a  patent  for  the  colonization  of  that  terri¬ 
tory,  but  subject  to  certain  conditions.  These  however  he  was 
unable  to  fulfil,  and  consequently  the  patent  was  declared 
to  be  forfeited.54  A  second  English  colony  arrived  from  Massachusetts 
in  1661,  and  the  colonists  settled  at  Cape  Fear,  having  purchased  a 
district  surrounding  it  from  the  Indians.55  For  some  time  those  immi¬ 
grants  struggled  with  all  the  difficulties  of  a  pioneer  life  in  the  wilder¬ 
ness,  before  they  obtained  any  settled  form  of  government. 


52  His  peculiar  tenets  are  set  forth 
in  a  tract  published  in  London,  1644, 
and  intituled  “  Mr.  Cotton’s  Letter 
Examined  and  Answered.”  Again,  in 
“  The  Hireling  Ministry,”  by  Roger 
Williams,  London,  1692. 

53  Backus,  Vol.  i.,  p.  94,  is  quoted 
for  this  expression.  See  Bancroft’s 


“  History  of  the  United  States, 11 
chap.  iix.,  p.  379. 

64  See  Williamson’s  “  North  Carolina,1' 
Vol.  i.,  pp.  84,  85. 

56  See  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
United  States,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  xiii.,  pp. 
130  to  133. 


IRIS U- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


30 


CHAPTER  IV. 


Slavery  first  brought  into  Virginia — Formation  of  Colonies — Constitution  granted 
to  Virginia  and  afterwards  withdrawn — Charter  granted  to  the  Governor  and 
Company  of  Massachusetts  Bay — Laws  in  that  Colony — Indian  War — Dutch 
Colonization — Missions  in  Maine. 

Already  an  English  expedition  had  been  projected  so  early  as  1562,  to 
procure  negroes  from  the  coast  of  Africa,  and  to  convey  them  for  sale 
to  the  West  Indian  plantations.  This  infamous  traffic  in  the  human 
species  was  commenced  by  Sir  John  Hawkins,  who  was  even  rewarded 
for  the  supposed  benefit  conferred  on  his  country.  Soon  the  practice 
thus  approved  found  imitators,  and  led  to  the  atrocities  which  so  long 
continued,  bringing  disgrace  on  the  nations  and  communities  that 
tolerated  such  an  unchristian  and  immoral  usage.  We  have  now  to 
record,  that  in  the  year  1619  a  Dutch  vessel  from  the  const  of  Guinea 
brought  a  cargo  of  slaves  to  Virginia,  where  these  were  sold  to  the 
planters.1  This  first  gave  rise  to  the  evil  of  slavery  in  the  colonies. 
However,  thirty  years  after  this  importation  of  Africans,  the  increase 
was  inconsiderable.  Virginia  contained  fifty  whites  to  one  black  man. 
A  conditional  servitude  under  indentures  or  covenant  had  already 
existed  there,  from  the  period  of  its  first  settlement,2  but  this  was  only 
an  apprenticeship  to  terms  and  restrictions  for  labour. 

When  Sir  Thomas  Gates  came  over  as  Governor,  he  sent  Sir  Thomas 
Dale  with  newly  arrived  immigrants  up  the  river,  where  he  formed  the 
settlement  of  Henrico,  thus  named  in  honour  of  Henry  Prince  of  Wales. 
Here  it  was  intended  to  erect  a  college,  and  Patrick  Copeland3  was 
elected  as  its  Rector;4  however,  the  Indian  outbreak,  and  subsequent 
dissolution  of  the  Virginia  Company,  prevented  him  from  undertaking 
the  duties  of  liis  office,  so  he  went  to  Bermuda.5  In  like  manner, 
Charles  City  had  been  founded  and  so  called  after  Prince  Charles, 
afterwards  King  Charles  I.  Great  efforts  were  then  made  to  direct 


1  See  Robert  Beverley’s  “  History  of 
the  Present  State  of  Virginia.” 

2  See -George  Bancroft’s  “History  of  the 
United  States,”  Vol.  i.,chap.  v.,pp.  175-177. 

3  He  entered  the  service  of  the  East 
India  Company  in  1614.  In  1621,  he 
collected  from  the  passengers  of  the 
Royal  James’  £70  8s.  6d.,  for  the  Vir¬ 
ginia  plantation.  The  Virginia  Com¬ 
pany  decided  to  use  this  money  in  the 
erection  of  a  school  at  Charles  City,  Va. 
to  be  called  the  “  East  India  School.” 

4  He  corresponded  and  sympathised 


with  Roger  Williams.  Among  the  papers, 
MSS.  His.  Coll.  Wintropp  I.,  5th  series, 
dated  December  4,  1639,  he  alludes  to 
twelve  New  England  Indians  sent  to  him 
to  be  educated. 

8  Anderson  in  his  “  History  upon  the 
Colonial  Church,”  says :  “  Upon  a  MSS. 
survey  of  Bermudas  made  in  1662,  there 
is  a  tract  of  land  in  Paget’s  District 
marked  ‘given  to  the  Free  School  by 
Patrick  Copeland,  sometime  minister  of 
the  World  in  his  tribe.’” — Duyckinck’a 
“  Cyclopedia  of  American  Literature.” 


COLONY  OF  VIRGINIA. 


37 


colonization  towards  Virginia  by  the  London  Company  and  by  King 
James’  Council.  We  learn,  that  Irish  Catholics,  and  others  engaged  in 
insurrections,  were  transported  about  this  period  ;  as  also,  all  British 
criminals  “under  the  rope,”  bankrupts,  idle  and  dissolute  persons 
of  doubtful  character,  and  others  who  had  no  means  of  support.6  In 
1619,  twelve  ships  conveyed  no  fewer  than  1261  persons,  being  more 
than  double  the  number  actually  residing.7  Proprietors  of  a  different 
class,  however,  occupied  large  tracts  of  land,  and  employed  many 
of  the  dissolute  and  poverty-stricken  to  work  on  their  farms  or  to  serve 
them  as  tenants.  The  Established  Church  of  England  was  the  form  of 
worship  proclaimed  in  this  colony,  and  attendance  at  its  services  was 
made  compulsory.  Novelties  in  religion  were  prohibited,  and  dissenters 
were  fined  or  sent  out  of  the  colony.  No  “  popish  priests  ”  were 
allowed  to  remain  in  Virginia.  An  estate  had  been  set  apart  on  the 
James  River.  This  was  intended  for  the  endowment  of  a  college  to 
educate  the  Whites  and  Indians.  A  number  of  settlers  had  been 
engaged  to  take  charge  of  it,  but  these  were  massacred  by  the  savages. 
This  delayed  the  foundation  of  the  institution  until  1693,  when  the 
college  of  William  and  Mary  was  established  at  Williamsburg,  Virginia. 

The  first  constitution  granted  to  the  colonists  was  that  given 
to  Virginia  by  the  London  Company  in  1621.  This,  however,  was  of  a 
ver}7  restricted  character.  The  Governor  and  Council  there  were 
appointed  by  the  Company,  while  an  Assembly  consisted  of  the  Council 
and  a  House  of  Burgesses  elected  by  the  people.  The  laws  enacted  by 
them  required  assent  from  the  Governor  and  the  Company  in  England. 
Moreover,  these  obliged  the  colonists  to  ratify  their  orders.8 * 

Finding  the  constantly  increasing  colonists  were  making  inroads  on 
their  hunting  grounds,  and  asserting  a  right  to  all  the  land  they  could 
enclose,  the  Indians  entered  into  a  plot,  after  the  death  of  Powhattan, 
to  exterminate  all  the  white  settlers,  whom  they  had  hitherto  tolerated.^ 
They  suddenly  attacked  the  scattered  settlements 10  on  the  22nd  of 
March  1622,  and  massacred  about  350  persons.  An  alarm  had  been 
conveyed  to  the  Government  house  at  Jamestown,  in  time  to  warn  the 
nearer  colonists  in  the  thickly  planted  districts  about  their  danger. 
This  saved  the  settlers  from  utter  extermination.  Such  occurrences 
naturally  led  to  a  war  of  reprisals.  While  the  Indians  suffered  severely 
in  that  contest,  the  colonists  sustained  great  losses  likewise  both  in  life 
and  property. 


6  See  James  Grahame’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States  of  America,”  Vol.  i., 
Book  i.,  chap.,  ii.,  p.  71. 

7  See  “  A  True  Declaration  of  the  state 
of  the  Colonies  in  Virginia,”  by  His 
Majesty’s  Council,  22nd  June,  1620,  p.  9. 
n.p.  2. 

8  See  George  Chalmers’  “  Political 

Annals  of  the  Present  United  Colonies, 

from  their  Settlement  till  1763,”  Book  I. 


This  was  all  that  he  published  in  1780, 
in  4to.  The  work  was  republished  with 
additions  and  an  introduction  at  Boston, 
1845,  in  two  volumes,  8vo. 

8  His  brother  Opecancanough  was  the 
chief  instigator  of  this  murderous  de¬ 
sign. 

10  See  Robert  Beverly’s  “History  of 
the  Present  State  of  Virginia,”  Loudon, 
1705,  8vo,  in  4  parts. 


38  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

While  restricting  popular  rights  in  Virginia,  the  London  Company 
had  been  anxious  to  procure  privileges  for  themselves  at  home.  This 
excited  jealousies  in  the  mind  of  James  I.,  who  now  resolved  to  exercise 
his  prerogative  in  an  arbitrary  manner.  After  various  disputes,  in 
1624  he  cancelled  their  charter,  on  the  pretext  that  the  Company  had 
mismanaged  the  colony.  He  issued  a  writ  quo  warranto,  and  he 
brought  the  case  before  the  Courts,  then  composed  of  judges  removable 
by  the  Crown.  As  might  have  been  suspected,  a  sentence  was  passed 
declaring  the  charter  to  be  forfeited.  The  Company  was  thus  dis¬ 
solved. 

In  the  year  1628,  a  Royal  charter  was  obtained  from  Charles  I., 
and  it  was  granted  March  4th,  under  the  name  of  the  Governor  and 
Company  of  Massachusetts-Bay  in  New  England.11  The  first  governor 
and  his  council  were  named  by  the  king.12  Soon  the  Company  trans¬ 
ferred  the  governing  power  from  London  to  the  colony  itself.  After¬ 
wards,  several  emigrants  of  distinction,  of  education  and  of  respectable 
means  emigrated  to  New  England.  Nearly  all  of  these  being  strict 
Calvinists  were  hostile  to  the  established  Government  and  Church  in 
England.13  Among  these,  the  earliest  settlers  beyond  the  Atlantic, 
were  some  Irish  Puritans,  as  we  find  it  recorded ;  the  emigrants  that 
left  Ireland  for  this  distant  colony  however  seem  to  baffle  any  attempt 
at  an  exact  enumeration.  About  one  thousand  colonial  settlers  came 
out,  with  John  Winthrop  as  their  governor,  in  the  year  1630.  As 
many  of  these  belonged  to  the  town  of  Boston  in  Lincolnshire,  they 
founded  a  city  of  future  historical  renown,  and  distinguished  for  its 
commerce,  in  the  United  States.  To  this  new  town  they  gave  a 
similar  name  ;  but  the  immigrants  suffered  great  hardships  and  priva¬ 
tions  there,  before  they  could  fix  on  proper  places  for  their  permanent 
settlements.14 

During  those  times,  and  subsequently,  religious  polemics  and 
doctrinal  expositions  prevailing  in  the  mother-country,15  and  brought  by 


11  See  “  The  History  of  the  Colony  of 
Massachusetts-Bay,  from  the  first  Settle¬ 
ment  thereof,  in  1628,  until  its  Incor¬ 
poration  with  the  Colony  of  Plymouth, 
Province  of  Maine,  &c.,  by  the  Charter 
of  King  William  and  Queen  Mary,  in 
1691.”  By  Mr.  Hutchinson,  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  the  Massachusetts  Pro¬ 
vince,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  i.,  p.  9.  The  second 
volume  of  this  is  intituled  “  The  History 
of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay, 
from  the  Charter  of  King  William  and 
Queen  Mary  in  1691,  until  the  year  1750.” 

12  See  James  Grahame’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States  of  North  America,” 
Vol.  i.,  Book  ii.,  chap,  i.,  p.  205. 

13  See  Daniel  Neal’s  “  History  of  the 
Puritans ;  or,  Protestant  Nonconfor¬ 
mists  ;  from  the  Reformation  in  1517, 


to  the  Revolution  in  1688 :  comprising 
an  Account  of  their  Principles  ;  their 
attempts  for  a  farther  Reformation  in 
the  Church,  their  Sufferings,  and  the 
Lives  and  Characters  of  their  most  con¬ 
siderable  Divines,”  Vol.  i.  Part  ii.,  chap, 
iv.,  pp.  532  to  537.  New  edition,  Lon¬ 
don,  1837,  in  three  vols.,  8vo.  It  has 
gone  through  several  editions,  both  in 
Europe  and  in  America.  . 

14  See  Hutchinson’s  “  History  of  the 
Colony  of  Massachusetts-Bay,”  Vol.  i., 
chap,  i.,  pp.  14  to  23. 

16  In  Samuel  Butler’s  satiric  poem, 
“  Hudibras,”  the  opinions  and  manners 
of  the  English  Puritans  (if  this  period  are 
set  forth  with  inimitable  humour,  bub, 
of  course,  in  a  vein  of  grotesque  carica< 
ture. 


COLONY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS. 


3'J 


zealous  propagandists  into  the  new,  seem  chiefly  to  have  engaged 
the  ministers  and  congregations  throughout  the  various  colonies.16  The 
Scriptures  were  diligently  searched  and  studied ;  while  the  quaint  and 
strained  meanings  often  attached  to  several  passages,  with  their  application 
to  passing  occurrences  and  to  the  every-day  usages  of  life,  convey  an 
amusing  and  instructive  elucidation  of  Puritan  life  and  thought.17  So 
strict  were  the  regulations  for  membership  in  the  colonial  churches,  that 
not  more  than  a  fourth  part  of  the  adult  population  attained  it,  while  no 
man  was  regarded  as  deserving  to  be  a  citizen  or  a  voter,  unless  he 
could  produce  such  a  qualification.  The  elders  of  the  Churches  were 
consulted  by  their  congregations  on  all  important  temporal  affairs.18  The 
ministers  had  granted  a  privilege  to  their  hearers,  however,  to  ask  ques¬ 
tions  “  wisely  and  sparingly  ”  at  the  end  of  their  sermons.  This  was 
soon  found  to  be  attended  with  great  inconvenience,  for  several  inter¬ 
rogatories  were  put  in  the  various  congregations,  by  individuals  who 
became  convinced  of  their  capacity  to  treat  doctrinal  questions  of  the 
most  abstruse  kind,  and  to  discover  errors  in  the  teaching  of  their  most 
learned  divines.19  The  magistrates  had  authority  in  both  civil  and  religious 
affairs,  while  very  strict  laws  were  enacted  to  maintain  their  authority. 

Notwithstanding  the  stringency  of  those  laws  and  regulations,  religious 
harmony  was  soon  disturbed  by  a  lady  of  good  birth  and  great  energy  of 
character,  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  originally  from  Lincolnshire,  who  had  become 
a  zealous  inquirer,  and  who,  as  a  consequence,  had  been  excluded  from 
her  congregation.  However,  she  called  together  every  Sabbath  evening 
a  numerous  meeting,  and  soon  she  began  to  teach  that  the  ministers  and 
colonial  congregations  were  alike  in  total  darkness,  while  they  must 
undergo  a  radical  change  before  they  could  hope  to  enjoy  divine  favour. 
She  also  maintained,  that  salvation  depended  wholly  upon  an  uncondi¬ 
tional  election,  which  was  made  known  to  its  object  by  a  supernatural 
assurance,  while  this  rendered  reformation  of  heart  and  conduct  altogether 
superfluous,  even  as  a  test  of  the  Christian’s  spiritual  state.  Her 
brother-in-law,  Mr.  Wheelright,  became  a  zealous  propagator  of  those 
views,  which  were  termed  Antinomian,  and  while  expounding  them  his 
church  became  thronged  with  hearers.  Although  each  congregation  had 
hitherto  acted  almost  as  a  separate  body,  yet  a  general  synod  was  con¬ 
vened  to  assemble  in  Cambridge.  Preachers,  deputies  from  the 
congregations  and  magistrates  met  on  the  30th  of  August,  1637. 
Great  numbers  of  the  people  were  present,  as  also  the  accused  Schis- 


16  See  Cotton  Mather’s  “  Magnalia 
Christi  Americana  ;  or,  the  Ecclesiastical 
History  of  New  England  from  its  first 
Planting  in  the  year  1620  unto  the  Year 
of  Our  Lord  1698.” 

17  This  may  be  observed,  as  well  illus¬ 
trated,  in  the  early  chapters  of  George 
Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the  United 
States,”  Vol.  i.  _ 

18  See  Daniel  Neal’s  “  History  of  New 


England,  containing  an  Impartial  Ac¬ 
count  of  the  Civil  and  Ecclesiastical 
Affairs  of  the  Country  to  the  Year  of 
Our  Lord  1700,”  Vol.  i.,  chap  iv.,  pp.  141 
to  145.  This  work  appeared  in  1720,  at 
London,  in  two  vols. ;  and  in  a  second 
edition,  with  many  additions,  at  London, 
1747,  in  two  vols.,  8vo. 

19  See  Hugh  Murray’s  “  United  States 
of  America,”  Vol.  i ,  chap,  vi..  pp.  2Q9,  210. 


40 


1 RISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


inatics.  -Eighty-two  abstract  propositions  had  been  prepared  for 
condemnation.  For  three  weeks,  stormy  debates  and  recriminations 
ensued  ;  but,  the  result  was  a  synodal  decree  of  condemnation.20  This 
proceeding  did  not  prevent  Mrs.  Hutchinson  from  holding  her  meetings, 
nor  Mr.  Wheelright  from  preaching  in  his  church ;  and  since  both  were 
regarded  -as  persecuted  saints  and  prophets,  by  vast  crowds  of  the 
people,  so  their  opinions  became  the  more  diffused.  Mr.  Wheelright 
was  first  prosecuted  by  the  magistrates,  and  he  was  ordered  to  depart 
from  the  colony  within  a  fortnight.  Next  Mrs.  Hutchinson  was 
arraigned,  and  she  defended  herself  with  remarkable  ability;  but  being 
closely  pressed  and  warmed  by  discussion,  declared  she  had  received  reve¬ 
lations  which  enabled  her  to  distinguish  between  the  true  and  false  reli¬ 
gion.  Having  been  found  guilty  of  holding  twenty-six  of  the  eighty-two 
condemned  propositions,  she  was  ordered  to  leave  the  colony  within  six 
months.  After  causing  much  commotion  in  the  congregations,  she  retired 
with  sl  number  of  her  followers  to  Rhode  Island,  where  she  received  a 
kindly  welcome  from  Roger  Williams.  Six  years  later,  she  and  her  whole 
family  were  surprised  in  her  home  and  murdered  by  a  band  of  Indians.21 

It  was  considered  an  idolatrous  practice  by  the  New  Englanders  to 
observe  any  of  the  holidays  prescribed  by  the  Catholic  or  by  the  English 
Established  Church.  Nay  more  :  differences  in  religion  would  no  longer 
<oe  tolerated,  and  a  law  was  actually  passed  which  enacted  the 
punishment  by  death  against  such  heretics  as  should  attempt  to  seduce 
others.22  A  law  was  enacted  by  the  General  Court  in  1647,  whereby 
Jesuits  were  forbidden  to  enter  the  colony  of  Massachusetts.  If  found 
within  its  jurisdiction,  they  were  expelled,  and  if  they  ventured  to  come 
a  second  time,  they  were  liable  to  be  hanged.23  The  sympathies  of  the 
colonists  were  strongly  on  the  side  of  the  Parliamentarians  of  England, 
in  their  struggle  with  the  King.  As  deemed  disloyal,  they  were  regarded 
with  especial  disfavour  and  suspicion  by  the  Royalists.  Many  of  the  latter 
party  were  to  be  found  in  the  colony,  who  dissented  from  the  rigorous  rules 
there  prevailing,  and  who  were  otherwise  dissatisfied  with  their  own 
exclusion  from  place  and  position.  One  of  the  extraordinary  superstitions 
■which  took  possession  of  the  New  England  Puritans  was  a  belief  in  the 
existence  of  witches  and  of  witchcraft  among  them.  The  celebrated 
minister  Increase  Mather,  who  was  president  of  Harvard  College,  wrote 
several  books  on  that  subject.  The  reading  of  these  greatly  tended  to 
increase  the  popular  delusion.  His  son  Cotton  Mather  frequently 
preached  against  witchcraft,  the  sinfulness  of  which  he  denounced  in  no 
measured  terms.  Several  laws  were  enacted,  which  made  its  practice  a 
capital  offence.  Six  or  eight  persons,  supposed  to  he  witches,  suffered  death 


20  pee  Cotton  Mather,  Part  vii.,  p.  16. 

21  See  Daniel  Neal’s  “  History  of  New 
England,  containing  an  Impartial  Ac¬ 
count  of  the  Civil  and  Ecclesiastical 
Affairj  of  the  Country  to  the  Year  of 
our  Lcrd  1700.”  Vol.  i.,  pp.  191  to  194, 


A  See  “  An  Abstract  of  the  Lawes 
of  New  England,”  p.  10,  London, 
1641. 

23  See  Fitton’s  “  Sketches  of  the 
Establishment  of  the  Chuivh  in  New 

England  ” 


COLONY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS.  4] 

between  1648  and  1655.  Several  trials  and  condemnations  are  recorded, 
as  having  taken  place  in  Boston,  Charlestown  and  Hartford,  solely  in 
reference  to  this  imputed  crime.  Owing  to  complaints  about  the  Puritans 
which  reached  the  Royal  ears,  Charles  I.  ha 4  desired  to  take  away  their 
Charter,  and  to  govern  them  by  a  Royal  Commission.  About  the  same 
time,  a  prohibition  was  put  forth,  to  prevent  thePuritans  of  England  from 
transporting  themselves  to  the  New  England  settlements.24  Whereupon 
the  colonists  began  to  manifest  a  spirit  of  political  independence,  which 
had  been  constantly  fanned  and  strengthened  by  the  constant  arrival 
of  new  immigrants.  They  likewise  manifested  a  mutinous  and  rebellious 
feeling,  by  voting  £600  to  fortify  the  settlements  on  Massachusetts-Bay. 
Even  they  took  measures  to  provide  for  their  military  defence.  However, 
the  troubles  at  home  soon  diverted  the  attention  of  the  Crown  to  matters 
of  more  pressing  and  serious  importance.  Thus,  the  colon>sts  remained 
unmolested,  to  pursue  their  own  ideas  regarding  local  and  general  polity. 

The  establishment  of  seminaries  for  learning  had  early  engaged  the 
attention  of  the  Colonists.  In  1638  25  Harvard  College  was  founded  26 
for  higher  education.  Afterwards,  schools  were  opened  in  every 
considerable  town.  In  1635,  the  first  printing  press  was  set  up  in  the 
United  States.  For  many  subsequent  years,  the  art  of  printing  had  not 
much  extension  beyond  New  England,  and  there  the  first  productions 
of  the  press  were  mostly  religious  and  controversial  tracts. 

Unlike  the  French  colonists,  the  settlers  of  New  England  took  very 
little  real  interest  in  attempts  to  christianize  the  Indians.27  However, 
one  of  the  first  Boston  preachers,  the  Rev.  John  Elliot,  devoted  a  long  life 
to  missionary  enterprise  among  the  savages.  He  acquired  great  influence 
over  them.  The  labours  of  Thomas  Mayhew  among  them  are  also  to  be 
commended  for  earnestness  in  the  work  of  civilization.28  The  settlers 
succeeded  for  a  time,  in  keeping  on  terms  of  friendship  with  most  of  the 
tribes  ;  but,  many  of  the  colonists  behaved  so  ill,  that  the  natives  began 
to  feel  a  dread  of  their  encroachments,  and  only  for  the  exertions  of 
Massassoit,  a  friendly  chief,  it  seems  likely,  open  hostilities  could  not  be 
averted.  The  Governor,  Edward  Winslow,  acted  with  much  tact  and 
prudence,  in  the  effort  to  secure  those  few  colonists  who  in  the 
outset  laboured  under  many  privations.  By  degrees,  fresh  arrivals 
strengthened  the  population  and  the  range  of  settlements  greatly 
extended.29 


24  See  Daniel  Neal’s  “  History  of 
New  England,”  Vol.,  i.,  'chap.,  iv.,  pp. 
168,  169. 

25  See  Hutchinson’s  “  History  of 
the  Colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay,”  Vol. 
i.,  chap,  i.,  p.  90. 

26  By  a  minister  of  Charlestown, 
who  gave  name  to  it. 

27  A  very  interesting  account  of  the 
twenty  or  thirty  different  nations  there, 
and  regarding  their  appearance,  habits, 


customs  and  traditions,  may  be  found  in 
Daniel  Neal’s  “History  of  New  Eng¬ 
land,  containing  an  Impartial  Account 
of  the  Civil  and  Ecclesiastical  Affairs  of 
the  Country  to  the  year  of  our  Lord, 
1700,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  i.,  pp.  22  to  49. 

28  See  James  Grabame’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States  of  North  America,” 
Vol.  i.,  Book  ii.,  chap,  iii.,  pp.  274  to 
281. 

29 See  Hugh  Murray’s  “United  States 


42  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

The  New  England  colonists  became  embroiled  with  the  powerful 
and  warlike  confederacy  of  Pequod  Indians,  in  1636.  Their  chief  seat 
was  on  the  Pequod  river — now  the  Thames — in  Connecticut.  These 
were  on  bad  terms  with  the  whites.  After  a  succession  of  raids  and 
murders,  the  Pequods  endeavoured  to  concert  with  the  Narragansets  a 
general  massacre  of  the  colonists.30  This  plot  was  defeated  by  the  in¬ 
fluence  which  Roger  Williams  exercised  over  the  Narragansets,  and  he 
was  the  first  to  warn  the  Governor  of  Massachusetts  regarding  the  im¬ 
pending  conspiracy.31  The  whites  now  determined  to  wage  war  upon 
the  Pequods,  and  to  strengthen  their  bands,  they  secured  an  alliance 
with  the  Narragansets  and  Mohegans.  An  expedition  was  planned, 
and  accordingly,  a  gathering  of  armed  men  assembled  at  Narraganset 
Bay.  These  consisted  of  twenty  men  from  the  Massachusetts  colony, 
under  the  command  of  Captain  Underhill;  ninety  men  collected 
from  the  Connecticut  towns,  under  Captain  John  Mason;  while  sixty 
Mohegan  Indians  were  led  by  their  chief  Uncas,  and  two  hundred 
Narragansets  formed  under  Miantonomoh.  After  a  march  of  two  days 
in  May  1637,  the  allied  force  came  upon  one  of  the  principal  Pequod 
strongholds.  This  village  was  surrounded  by  a  rude  fortification, 
formed  only  of  trees  and  brushwood.32  The  Pequods  were  surprised  in 
their  sleep,  and  hemmed  in  on  every  side.  They  fought  bravely  how¬ 
ever  until  Mason,  crying  out,  “  We  must  burn  them,”  thrust  a  fire¬ 
brand  into  one  of  the  wigwams.  The  whole  village  was  soon  in  flames. 
This  appears  to  have  given  intense  satisfaction  to  the  Narragansets  who 
danced  and  whooped  all  the  while,  as  they  witnessed  the  sufferings  of 
their  dying  enemies.33  The  attack  now  became  a  massacre,  and  about 
six  hundred  of  the  Indians  fell.  The  New  Englanders  kept  up  the 
fight  within  the  fort,  where  most  of  their  enemies  perished  miserably  in 
the  flames.  Their  Indian  allies  struck  down  those  fugitives  who 
attempted  to  escape  from  their  enclosure.34  A  fortnight  later,  more 
troops  arrived  from  Boston.  The  remnant  of  the  Pequods  was  now 
pursued  to  the  swamps.  There,  they  had  vainly  taken  refuge, 
for  they  were  closely  pursued  and  hunted  from  their  lairs.  Their 
ruin  was  now  completed.  Eight  or  nine  hundred  were  killed 
or  taken.  The  captives  were  then  sold  into  slavery.  Sassacus,  their 
head  sachem,  fled  for  protection  to  the  Mohawks.  These  put 
him  to  death,  and  his  country  became  a  province  of  the  English. 
The  confederacy  of  Indians  was  entirely  annihilated,35  so  that  during  a 
considerable  period,  the  colonists  remained  safe  from  their  incursions. 


of  America,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  vi.,  pp.  190  to 
196. 

30  See  Hutchinson’s  “  History  of  the 
Colony  of  Massachusetts-Bay,”  Vol.  i., 
chap,  i.,  pp.  68,  59. 

81  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States,”  Vol.  i.  chap,  ix.,  p.  398. 

32  See  E.  R.  Potter’s  “  Early  History  of 
Narragansett,”  p.  24. 


33  See  Daniel  Neal’s  “  History  of  New 
England,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  v.,  pp.  173  to  178. 

34 See  William  Hubbard’s  “Narrative 
of  the  Troubles  with  the  Indians  from 
1607-77,”  published  a.d.  1677,  4to.  This 
contains  an  old  Map  of  New  England. 

35  See  Hutchinson’s  “  History  of  the 
Colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay,”  Vol.  i., 
chap,  i.,  pp.  76  to  81. 


I 


DUTCH  COLONIZATION. 


*3 


For  a  better  protection  against  future  Indian  attacks,  and  to  advance 
their  interests  generally,  a  confederation  designated  “The  United 
Colonies  of  New  England,”  was  formed  in  1643.  Delegates  were  chosen 
from  Plymouth,  Connecticut  and  New  Haven.  These  met  at  Boston, 
with  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts.  It  was  arranged,  that  two 
Commissioners  from  each  colony  should  meet  alternately  at  Boston, 
Plymouth,  Hartford  and  New  Haven.  Their  desire  was  to  protect 
themselves  from  the  encroachments  of  the  Dutch  and  French  colonists, 
most  likely  to  be  more  powerfully  aggressive  and  dangerous  than  were 
those  of  the  Indians.  The  Commissioners  could  only  be  Church 
members,  according  to  their  rules  of  confederation.  These  officials 
chose  their  own  president,  while  they  had  charge  of  Indian  affairs  and 
of  war ;  thus  assuming  a  superior  jurisdiction  in  the  commonwealth,3'5 
where  they  were  regarded  as  responsible  for  its  peace  and  security.  Being 
by  far  the  most  powerful  colony,  Massachusetts  was  allowed  to  take 
precedence  over  the  other  provinces.  The  settlers  of  Rhode  Island  and 
of  Maine  were  not  admitted  to  have  any  part  in  that  league.  The 
confederacy  was  important  in  its  moral  consequences,  as  the  first  step 
towards  a  federal  union.  But  the  Commissioners  assumed  no  right 
to  interfere  in  the  internal  jurisdiction  of  any  of  the  States ;  they 
had  even  no  power  to  enforce  their  decrees ;  they  could  only  consult, 
advise  and  report  to  the  confederated  bodies.  With  these  it  rested, 
to  reject  or  to  execute  their  resolves.  After  assembling  for  some 
years,  however,  and  without  accomplishing  what  was  expected  from  it, 
the  New  England  Confederacy  dissolved. 

The  Dutch,  meantime,  were  equally  enterprising  and  active  as  the 
New  Englanders  in  planting  towns  and  villages  along  the  Hudson 
River.87  Their  National  Company  granted  extraordinary  privileges  to 
encourage  the  formation  of  trading  and  farming  settlements.  Under 
such  inducements,  several  proprietors  from  the  Netherlands  had  taken 
out  colonies  of  fifty  or  more  persons,  at  their  own  expense.  The  affairs  of 
this  new  colony  were  to  be  managed  by  a  governor  or  director-general 
and  a  council,  who  were  appointed  by  the  Company,  and  in  whom  all 
the  legislative,  executive  and  judicial  powers  were  vested.  The  first 
governor  was  Peter  Minuit,  who  bought  the  Island  of  Manhattan — the 
present  site  of  New  York  City — from  the  Indians.  There  he  built 
a  fort,38  and  he  called  the  settlement  New  Amsterdam.  According  to  the 
constitution  of  their  colony,  no  religion  wae  to  be  tolerated,  except  that  of 
the  Dutch  Reformed  Church.  However,  the  law  was  not  strictly  enforced, 
and  many  other  Protestant  sects  procured  admission  into  their  settle¬ 
ments.  Those  emigrating  capitalists  were  known  as  patroons  or 
patrons,  who  obtained  large  tracts  of  territory,  on  which  they  settled 
tenants,  and  over  whom  they  exercised  absolute  control.  In  course  of 
time,  great  dissensions  arose  between  the  company  and  the  patroons,  who 

36  See  ibid.,  pp.  124  to  126.  of  the  Colony  of  New  Netherlands.” 

37  For  further  details,  the  reader  38  This  stood  on  a  spot  now  well- 
is  referred  to  Moulton’s  “  History  known  as  the  Battery. 


44 


TRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


were  mostly  Belgian  and  Flemish  Protestants.  Owing  to  those  troubles 
the  Dutch  Governor  Peter  Minuit  was  recalled.  After  this,  he  entered 
the  service  of  Sweden,  and  sailing  to  the  Delaware  river  with  a  com¬ 
pany  of  Swedes,  he  built  a  fort,  near  the  present  site  of  Wilmington. 
He  erected  another  on  an  island,  below  the  present  city  of  Phila¬ 
delphia.  An  earlier  settlement  in  the  southern  part  of  Delaware  had 
been  destroyed  by  the  Indians,  and  it  was  now  sought  to  repair  that 
damage.  rlhe  Governor  Minuit  was  succeeded  in  the  year  1629  by 
Wouter  Van  Twiller,  who  had  been  sent  out  by  the  West  Indian  Com¬ 
pany.  Under  his  administration  a  long  term  of  peace  succeeded,  which 
enabled  the  Dutch  to  engage  in  the  process  of  colonization  and  of  other 
industrial  pursuits.  Towards  the  close  of  his  administration,  the  New 
Englanders  had  begun  to  extend  their  settlements  beyond  the  boun¬ 
daries  of  Massachusetts  into  the  territory  of  Connecticut,  then  claimed 
by  the  Dutch  as  a  portion  of  their  possessions ;  and,  against  these 
encroachments,  the  Governor  entered  a  protest,  which  was  entirely 
disregarded  by  the  English.39.  The  third  governor  of  New  York — 
appointed  in  1637 — was  William  Kieft,  a  man  of  choleric  and  intract¬ 
able  temper.  In  the  earlier  years  of  his  rule,  he  had  some  disputes 
with  the  Connecticut  colonists.  In  the  year  1643,  a  treacherous  attack 
was  made  by  the  Dutch  upon  some  Indians  assembled  at  Hoboken, 
when  one  hundred  and  twenty  of  them  were  barbarously  massacred 
during  the  night.  Notwithstanding  his  disputes  with  the  English, 
Kieft  availed  of  Captain  Underhill’s  services,  to  aid  him  in  his 
encounters  with  the  Indians.  At  the  head  of  a  mixed  troop  of  English 
and  Dutch,  that  brave  mercenary  leader  slew  great  numbers  of  them 
on  Long  Island  and  on  the  mainland.  These  provocations  led  to  a 
terrible  Indian  war  against  the  Dutch,  and  it  lasted  more  than  two 
years.40  In  1643,  Father  Isaac  Jogues,  a  Jesuit  missionary  who  had 
been  rescued  from  the  Mohawks,  came  to  New  York  City,41  but  he  only 
found  there  two  Catholics — a  Portuguese  woman  and  a  young  Irishman 
from  Maryland.42  With  him  came  Father  Bressani,  another  Jesuit 
missionary,  who  had  been  ransomed  by  the  Dutch  at  Fort  Orange, 
now  Albany.  Both  of  these  were  kindly  received  and  entertained  by 
Governor  Kieft  at  New  Amsterdam. 

So  much  dissatisfaction  had  been  given  to  the  company,  that  Kieft 
was  superseded  in  1646. 43  Peter  Stuvvesant,  a  brave  and  an  able  man, 
was  appointed  to  succeed  him  in  1647.  He  contrived  to  keep  peace 
with  the  Indians.  The  new  Governor  was  distinguished,  however,  for 
his  arbitrary  although  honourable  character.  In  the  year  1655,  he  led 
an  expedition  against  the  Swedes,  who  were  settled  on  the  Delaware. 


39  See  James  Grahame’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States  of  North  America," 
Vol.  ii.,  Book  v.,  chap-  i. 

40  See  iiiid.,  pp.  168,  169. 

41  See  John  Oil  hi  ary  Shea’s  “Catholic 
Churches  of  N*w  York  City,  with 
Sketches  of  their  History  and  Lives  of 


the  present  Pastors,”  &c.  Introdu,.  ..on, 
p.  21.  New  York,  1878.  4to. 

42  This  he  states,  in  a  letter  written  to 
Father  Lalemant,  and  dated  from  Rens- 
selaerwick,  August  30th,  1643. 

43  See  Hugh  Murray’s  “United  States 
of  America,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  p.  284. 


mm 


MISSIONS  IN  MAINE.  45 

He  soon  compelled  their  submission  to  Dutch  authority,  which  he  re¬ 
presented.  Their  settlement,  which  had  been  designated  New  Sweden, 
now  became  annexed  to  New  Netherland,  as  the  Dutch  colony  had 
been  designated.  Again,  the  Dutch  were  soon  embroiled  with  the 
English,  and  especially  with  the  settlers  of  Connecticut  and  New 
Haven.  Moreover,  several  English  families  had  already  settled  in  and 
near  New  Amsterdam.  These  began  to  demand  popular  forms  of 
government,  while  the  Dutch  inhabitants  began  to  imbibe  some 
relish  for  the  political  ideas  which  then  prevailed  in  New  England. 
Without  asking  the  Governor’s  permission,  deputies  chosen  by  each 
village  in  New  Netherlands  assembled  at  New  Amsterdam,  in  Decem¬ 
ber  1663.44  This  agitation  had  nearly  caused  a  Revolution.  To  the 
governor,  the  people  addressed  claims,  only  to  be  taxed  with  their  own 
consent,  to  have  representative  institutions,  to  have  legislative  powers, 
and  to  appoint  their  officers.  These  demands  were  l-ejected  by  the 
governor,  who  asserted,  that  his  right  to  govern  them  was  derived  from 
God  and  from  the  West  Indian  Company.  At  length,  he  consented  to 
grant  the  popular  demand  for  a  representative  Assembly,  but  the  con¬ 
cession  came  too  late  to  inspire  public  confidence,  as  an  emergency  had 
ai'isen  to  make  the  concession  a  matter  of  lxecessity. 

In  August  1G46,  the  Jesuit  Father  Gabriel  Druilletes  journeyed 
from  Quebec  to  labour  among  the  Abenakies,  in  Maine.  Some  of  these 
had  visited  the  Christian  Indians  of  Siliery,  near  Quebec.  Having 
become  converted,  and  returning  home,  those  rude  missionaries 
preached  the  faith  to  their  countrymen  so  effectively,  that  these  sent  to 
Quebec  to  ask  for  a  resident  missionary  priest.  Having  reached  the 
waters  of  the  Kennebec,  Father  Druilletes  descended  that  river  from 
Norridgenock  to  the  first  English  trading  port,  where  Augusta  now 
stands.  Thence  he  continued  his  journey  to  the  sea,  and  he  followed 
the  coast  in  a  canoe  to  the  Penobscot,  visiting  seven  or  eight  English 
posts  on  his  way,  where — notwithstanding  the  intolerant  colonial  laws 
— to  his  gi’eat  sui’pi'ise  he  was  very  well  received.  Atthe  Penobscot,  be 
found  several  Capuchin  friars,  under  their  superior  Father  Ignatius,  who 
welcomed  him  with  the  utmost  cordiality.  Returning  he  again  as¬ 
cended  the  Kennebec  to  the  English  port  at  Augusta.  On  a  spot 
three  miles  above,  the  Indians  had  gathered  in  considerable  numbers, 
and  there  they  bxxilt  him  a  hut.  He  remained  with  them  xxntil  mid¬ 
winter,  when  he  went  with  them  on  their  gi’and  hunting  expedition, 
and  he  camped  with  them  on  Moosehead  Lake.  Early  in  the  summer,  he 
returned  to  Quebec,  and  during  the  two  following  years,  the  Abenakies 
were  without  a  priest.45 

It  was  found,  that  the  growing  trade  and  commerce  of  the  colony  in 
Massachusetts  required  extensian  beyond  its  limits ;  and  accordingly 
authorised  agents  had  applied  to  the  French  officials  at  Quebec,  with  a 
view  to  the  reciprocity  in  mercantile  transactions,  while  the  Abenakis 

44  See  the  New  York  Historical  So-  46  See  “Relation de  la  Nouvelle France,” 
ciety’s  edition  of  Smyth’s  “History  of  1647,  chap,  x.,  pp.  51  to  56,  Quebeo 
New  York.”  edition. 


46  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

needed  the  protection  of  the  English  colonists  under  whose  jurisdiction 
they  now  found  themselves.  Father  Druilletes  was  then  sent  in  a  double 
character,  both  as  envoy  of  the  government  at  Quebec  and  as  agent 
of  his  Abenakis  flock.  He  had  powers  given  him  also  to  negociate  a 
treaty.46  In  the  first  days  of  September,  1650,  he  set  forth  from  Quebec, 
with  a  Christian  chief  of  Sillery.  He  crossed  forests,  mountains  and 
torrents,  and  reached  Norridgenock,  then  the  highest  Abenakis 
settlement  on  the  Kennebec.  Thence  he  descended  to  the  English 
trading  house  at  Augusta.  There  the  Puritan  commandant  John  Win¬ 
slow,  whom  he  had  met  on  his  former  visit,  gave  him  a  warm  welcome. 
Winslow  accompanied  the  missionary,  and  at  a  great  personal  incon¬ 
venience,  so  far  as  Merry-meeting  Bay,  where  they  parted.  Then  the 
priest  embarked  in  an  English  vessel  for  Boston.  The  passage  was 
stormy  and  the  wind  was  ahead.  Father  Druilletes  was  forced  to  land 
at  Cape  Ann.  Thence,  partly  on  foot  and  partly  in  boats,  travelling 
along  the  shore,  he  made  way  to  Boston.  In  December  the  priest  crossed 
in  a  boat  to  Boston  fi'om  the  neighbouring  peninsula  of  Charleston. 
Edward  Gibbons,  a  Boston  merchant,  for  whom  Winslow  was  agent  in 
Maine,  received  Father  Druilletes  kindly.  He  also  entertained  and 
lodged  him  during  his  stay,  and  gave  him  the  key  of  a  chamber,  in 
order  that  he  might  pray  and  perform  the  other  exercises  of  religion 
after  his  own  fashion,  without  fear  of  disturbance.47  Father  Druilletes 
visited  Govenor  Dudley  in  Roxbury,  and  was  entertained  by  him  at 
dinner,  in  company  with  the  magistrates.  This  Jesuit  afterwards  went 
down  by  land  to  Plymouth  to  see  Governor  Bradford,  by  whom  he  was 
received  with  great  courtesy  and  kindness.  He  was  invited  by  the 
Governor  to  dine  with  the  magistrates,  and  as  it  was  Friday,  they  con¬ 
siderately  gave  him  a  dinner  of  fish.  Returning  by  land  to  Roxbury, 
now  a  part  of  Boston,  and  arriving  at  night,  he  was  obliged,  according 
to  the  usual  custom,  to  take  lodging  with  the  minister.  He  happened 
to  be  the  celebrated  Puritan  missionary  John  Elliot,  by  whom  he  was 
well  received  and  most  hospitably  entertained.  The  priest  visited 
Salem,  in  company  with  the  minister  of  Marblehead.  Thither  he  had  gone 
by  water  from  Boston.  He  had  an  interview  with  Endicott,  by  whom 
he  was  kindly  treated  and  well  entertained.  There  is  not  a  word  in 
the  narrative,  which  Father  Druilletes  has  left,  to  show  the  existence  of 
a  single  Catholic  at  Boston,  Plymouth,  Salem,  Marblehead,  or  elsewhere  ; 
indeed,  the  only  Catholic  whom  he  seems  to  have  met  during  his  whole 
journey  was  a  French  sailor,  whom  he  found  in  York,  Maine.  Father 
Druilletes  returned  to  Norridgenock  in  1656.  The  following  spring,  that 
mission  seems  to  have  been  abandoned.  Many  of  the  Abenakis,  at  the 
suggestion  of  the  Jesuits,  emigrated  to  the  Catholic  settlements  in 
Canada.48 


46 See  John  Gilmary  Shea’s  “The 
Catholic  Church  in  Colonial  Days,” 
1521 ,  1763,  Book  iii.,  chap,  i.,  pp.  241,  242. 

47  Mr.  Shea  judges  from  this  expression 
and  other  indications,  that  the  Jesuit 
envoy  brought  with  him  the  means  lor 


celebrating  Mass,  which  was  then — that 
is  towards  the  end  of  the  year  1650 — 
probably  offered  for  the  first  time  in 
Boston. 

48  See  Parkman’s  “Pioneers  of  France 
in  the  New  World.” 


TRANSPORTATION  OF  IRISH  SLAVES  TO  THE  AMERICAN  COLON1E8. 


47 


CHAPTER  V. 

Transportation  of  Irish  Slaves  to  the  American  Colonies — Disturbances  in  Maryland 
and  Virginia — Persecution  of  the  Quakers — The  Duke  of  York  gets  Possession  of 
the  Dutch  Colony — The  English  Navigation  Laws — Settlement  of  the  Carolinas 
— Bacon’s  Rebellion — Quaker  Settlements  in  New  Jersey — French  Explorations 
on  the  Mississippi  River — King  Philip’s  Indian  War  in  New  England. 

When  the  Parliamentarians  had  succeeded  in  subjugating  the  Irish  in 
16491  and  1650,  and  when  those  in  power  had  condemned  many  of  the 
leaders  to  death,  a  decree  of  banishment  sent  some  thirty  or  forty 
thousand2  of  the  Catholic  officers  and  soldiers  into  foreign  service.3 
Several  thousands  of  the  population  remaining  were  sold  as  slaves.4  The 
priests  were  condemned  to  exile  or  death.  Among  other  events  of  this 
period,  the  merchants  of  Bristol5  had  agents  treating  with  the  government 
for  men,  women,  and  girls,  to  be  sent  to  the  sugar  plantations  in  the  West 
Indies  and  to  New  England.6  From  every  part  of  Ireland,  the  Irish  Papists 
were  transported  in  crowded  vessels,  and  kept  as  bondsmen  in  the 
American  colonies,  while  scenes  like  the  slave  hunts  in  Africa  must  have 
been  witnessed.7  At  last,  however,  this  evil  became  too  shocking  and 
notorious,  particularly  when  those  dealers  in  Irish  flesh  began  to  seize 
the  daughters  and  children  of  the  English  themselves,  and  to  force  them 
on  board  their  slave  ships.  Then,  at  the  end  of  four  years,  those  orders 


1  Thirty  lives  were  saved  only  after  the 
capture  of  Drogheda  by  Oliver  Cromwell 
this  year,  and  these  were  reserved  to  be 
sent  as  slaves  to  Barbadoes.  See  Captain 
Thomas  Southey’s  “  Chronological  His¬ 
tory  of  the  West  Indies,”  Vol.  i.  p. 
321.  In  three  volumes.  London,  1827, 
8vo. 

2  See  Rev.  John  Lingard’s  “  History  of 
England,”  Vol  x.,  chap,  vi.,  p.  366,  and 
not 

3  The  King  of  Spain  sent  over  his 
agents  at  this  time  to  treat  with  the  go¬ 
vernment  for  the  Irish  Swordsmen. 

4  In  the  West  Indies  these  Irish  slaves 
were  condemned  to  work  in  twisting  to¬ 
bacco,  and  at  other  servile  occupations. 
See  “  Cambrensis  Eversus,”  by  Arch¬ 
deacon  John  Lynch,  Vol.  iii.,  chap,  xxviii., 
pp.  198,  199,  Rev.  Dr.  Kelly’s  edition. 
Dublin,  1851  to  1853,  8vo. 

5  Among  them,  Messrs.  Sellick  and 

Leader,  Mr.  Robert  Yeomans,  Mr.  Joseph 

Lawrence,  and  others,  all  of  Bristol, 
were  active  agents. 


6  The  Commissioners  of  Ireland  gave 
them  orders  upon  the  governors  of  gar¬ 
risons,  to  deliver  to  them  prisoners  of 
war ;  upon  masters  of  workhouses  for 
the  destitute  in  their  care  “who  were 
of  an  age  to  labour,  or  if  women  were 
marriageable  and  not  passed  breeding;” 
and  they  gave  directions  to  all  in  autho¬ 
rity  to  seize  those  who  had  no  visible 
means  of  livelihood,  and  deliver  them  to 
those  agents  of  the  British  merchants. 

7  One  Captain  John  Vernon  was  em¬ 
ployed  by  the  Commissioners  for  Ireland 
into  England,  and  he  contracted  in  their 
behalf  with  Mr.  Daniel  Sellick  and  Mr. 
Leader,  under  his  hand,  bearing  date 
14th  September  1653,  to  supply  them 
with  250  women  of  the  Irish  nation  above 
twelve  years  and  under  the  age  of  forty- 
five,  also  300  men  above  twelve  years  of 
age  and  under  fifty,  to  be  found  in  the 
country,  within  twenty  miles  of  Cork, 
Ycuglial  and  Kinsale,  Waterford  and 
Wexford,  to  transport  them  into  New 
England. 


48 


IRISH-AMER1CAN  HISTORY  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


wore  revoked.  It  is  estimated,  that  one  hundred  thousand8  were  exiled 
after  this  fashion ;  thus  leaving  Ireland  almost  completely  denuded  of 
her  native  population.9  Then,  it  was  found  necessary,  even  to  encourage 
some  of  the  Trans-Atlantic  colonists  to  return  and  to  occupy  the  direlict 
lands.  In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1651,  when,  according  to  their  own 
description  given  to  the  Council  of  State,  that  whole  island  was  a  scene 
of  unparalleled  waste  and  ruin,10  the  Commissioners  of  Ireland 
affectionately  urged  Mr.  Harrison,  then  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  in  New 
England,  to  come  over  and  reside  in  Ireland,  which  he  would  find 
experimentally  was  a  comfortable  seed-plot11  for  his  labours.12  Mr. 
Harrison  was  unable  to  come,  but  subsequent  proposals  were  made  in 

1655,  for  the  planting  of  Sligo  town,  and  the  entering  on  land  there¬ 
abouts  with  families  from  New  England.13  Moreover,  lands  on  the  mile 
line,  together  with  the  two  little  islands  called  Oyster  Island  and 
Cooney  Island,  were  leased  for  one  year,14  for  the  use  of  English  families 
from  New  England  in  America.15  During  the  May  and  July  of  this 
year,  several  persons  who  had  come  over  from  that  province  to  replant 
Ireland  were  received  as  tenants  of  State  land  near  Garristown,  in  the 
County  of  Dublin,  about  fifteen  miles  northward  from  the  capital. 
Others  followed  their  example.  We  are  informed  likewise,  that  in 

1656,  several  families,  arriving  from  New  England  at  Limerick,  had  the 
excise  of  tobacco  brought  with  them  for  the  use  of  themselves  and 
families  remitted. 

A  trader  from  Virginia  named  William  Clayboime16  had  established 
himself  on  Kent  Island  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  before  the  time  of  Sir 
George  Calvert’s  arrival.  The  Virginians  claimed  that  tract,  for  which 
Lord  Baltimore  had  obtained  a  patent,  and  now  Clay  borne  refused  to 
acknowledge  the  new  proprietor’s  authority.  He  had  already  expended 
over  <£6,000  on  his  establishments,  and  he  had  even  a  patent  from  the 
King  for  trade,  but  not  for  plantation.  Clayborne  appealed  to  the 
Virginian  Council,  who  expressed  their  astonishment.  Soon  afterwards, 
its  members  presented  a  remonstrance  to  the  English  government, 
regarding  the  severance  of  their  territory,  which  already  they  had  partly 


8 “Ultra  centum  milia  omnis  sexus  et 
setatis,  equibus  aliquot  milia  in  diversas 
Americse  tabaccarias  insulas  relegata 
sunt.” — Bruodin’s  “  Propugnaculum,”  p. 
692.  Pragae,  a.d.  1669. 

9  Sir  William  Petty  states,  that  of 
boys  and  women  alone,  six  thousand  were 
thus  transplanted  to  the  Tobacco  Islands, 
as  they  were  called. 

10  See  “  The  Great  Interest  of  England 
in  the  Well  Planting  of  Ireland  by 
English  people,”  p.  3. 

11  Such  is  the  expression  used. 

13  Letter  of  the  Commissioners  for  the 
Affairs  of  Ireland,  dated  from  Dublin, 
September  18th.  1651. 


13  On  this  subject,  see  Very  Rev.  and 
Ven.  Archdeacon  T.  O’Rorke’s  learned 
work,  “  History  of  Sligo :  Town  and 
county,’  Vol.  i.,  chap,  vii.,  pp.  179,  180. 
In  two  volumes.  Dublin,  1889,  8vo. 

14  From  the  10th  April,  1655 

15 See  John  P.  Prendergast’s  “Crom¬ 
wellian  Settlement  in  Ireland.”  Part 
iii.  Of  English  Planters  invited  back  by 
the  Government  from  America,  pp.  120, 
121.  London,  1865,  8vo. 

16  He  was  originally  a  surveyor,  and 
sent  by  the  London  Company  to  make  a 
map  of  Virginia.  See  William  Waller 
Hening’s  “Statutes  of  Virginia,  1619 — 
1792.”  Vol.  i.  p.  116.  In  thirteen  Vols. 
8vo.  Richmond,  1809  to  1823. 


DISTURBANCES  IN  MARYLAND  AND  VIRGINIA.  49 

occupied.  A  number  of  Puritans,  who  were  expelled  from  Virginia 
as  non-conformists  in  religion,  took  refuge  in  Maryland,  where  freedom 
of  conscience  and  of  worship  had  been  proclaimed.  Those  espoused 
the  cause  of  Clayborne,  who  drew  around  him  several  discontented 
persons,  and  at  length  they  broke  out  into  open  rebellion.  A  bloody 
skirmish  on  one  of  the  rivers  near  Kent  Island  ensued  Being  defeated, 
however,  Clayborne  fled  to  Virginia,  and  thence  he  escaped  to  England. 
The  Maryland  Colonial  Assembly,  convened  in  January  1633,  passed 
an  act  of  attainder  against  him.  The  first  Assembly  there  had  vindicated 
the  independent  jurisdiction  of  that  colony  ;  a  second  asserted  its  claims 
to  originating  legislation  ;  while  the  third,  convened  in  1639,  framed  a 
declaration  of  rights,  established  a  system  of  representative  government, 
and  asserted  for  the  general  Assemblies  in  the  province  all  such  powers 
as  might  be  claimed  by  the  Commons  of  England.17  During  the  contests 
between  the  King  and  his  parliament,  Clayborne  sided  with  the  popular 
party,  and  he  was  enabled  to  excite  another  rebellion  in  Maryland, 
a.d.  1644.  Calvert  was  obliged  to  fly  from  the  province,  early  in  the 
following  year,  as  the  insurgents  were  then  triumphant.  Disorder  and 
misrule  followed;  while  most  of  the  public  records  were  lost  or  embezzled1* 
under  the  new  domination.  In  the  year  1646,  having  collected  a  body 
of  troops,  Calvert  returned  to  Maryland.  His  authority  was  now 
re-established ;  when  the  governing  power  exercised  a  wise  clemency, 
by  granting  a  general  amnesty.19 

In  the  year  1649,  the  Catholic  Assembly  of  Maryland  passed  an  Act 
of  toleration  for  persons  of  all  religions.  The  Protestants  were  admitted 
to  all  offices  of  the  colony  equally  with  Catholics.  This  was  indeed  a 
great  advance  on  the  intolerance  elsewhere  prevailing.  The  disfranchised 
friends  of  prelacy  from  New  York,  and  the  Puritans  from  Virginia,  were 
welcomed  to  equal  liberty  of  conscience  and  political  rights  in  the 
Catholic  province  of  Maryland.90  The  Puritan  settlers,  distinguished 
for  insubordination,  were  chiefly  planted  at  Providence,  near  the  present 
site  of  Anapolis.21  In  1650,  a  separate  county  of  Anne  Arundel  was 
laid  out  for  their  possession ;  and  afterwards,  Charles  County  was 
assigned  them,  when  their  numbers  had  considerably  increased.  After 
the  death  of  Leonard  Calvert,  Lord  Baltimore  appointed  a  Protestant 
named  Stone  as  governor  over  his  colony.  The  governing  authorities 
and  the  Catholics  of  Maryland  sided  with  King  Charles  I.  against  the 
Parliament.  Accordingly,  after  his  execution,22  the  Commonwealth  being 


17  See  Rev.  Thomas  Bacon's  “  Laws 
of  Maryland,’'  1638-9,  chap,  i.,  ii. 

lb  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
ot  the  United  States,  Vol.  i.,  chap,  vii., 
p.  255. 

As  serving  to  illustrate  the  his¬ 
tory  of  this  period,  the  reader  is  re¬ 
ferred  to  Colonel  Norwood’s  “  Voyage 
to  Virginia,  1649,”  with  large  Mappe 
"Virginia  and  Maryland,  the  Planta¬ 


tions,  Houses,  Settlements.  Towns, 
&c. 

20  See  Bacon’s  “  Laws  of  Maryland,” 
1649,  chap,  xii.,  and  n.,  also  1650,  chap.  i. 

21  See  ‘  ‘  A  short  Account  of  the 
first  Settlement  of  Virginia,  Maryland, 
New  York.  New  Jersey,  and  Pennsyl¬ 
vania,  by  the  English.”  London,  1735, 
4to. 

31  On  the  30th  January,  1649. 

E 


50 


IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


established,  Commissioners  were  sent  out  in  1652,  to  report  regarding 
the  plantations  within  Chesapeake  Bay.23  Their  real  object,  however, 
was  to  overthrow  the  existing  order  of  affairs.  Notwithstanding,  after 
much  altercation,  Stone  with  three  of  his  council  was  permitted  to  retain 
the  executive  power,  until  further  instructions  should  arrive from  England. 24 

One  of  the  Commissioners  sent  out  by  the  Parliament,  and  most 
hostile  to  the  Maryland  rulers,  was  their  old  enemy  Clayborne.  The 
rights  of  Lord  Baltimore  had  been  reinstated  in  their  integrity  by  Stone 
and  his  friends,  who  introduced  the  old  council.  Yet,  in  July,  1654, 
Clayborne  and  Bennett  appeared  in  Maryland,  anil  compelled  the 
governor  to  surrender  his  commission,  when  a  board  of  ten  Commissioners 
was  appointed,  and  to  these  the  administration  of  that  colony  was 
intrusted.25  A  new  Assembly  convened  at  Patuxent  now  acknowledged 
Cromwell’s  authority,  and  it  also  disfranchised  the  Catholics  A  force 
was  collected  by  Stone,  to  re-assert  the  supremacy  of  Lord  Baltimore. 
Both  opposing  parties  came  to  a  collision  at  Providence,  when  the 
Puritans  triumphed.  The  governor  Stone  was  then  deposed,  and  having 
been  captured  with  many  others,  he  was  imprisoned  in  1655.  He  re¬ 
mained  in  confinement  during  the  greater  part  of  Cromwell’s  administra¬ 
tion.20  Several  of  Lord  Baltimore’s  adherents  were  hanged,  and  among 
these  were  four  of  the  chief  men  in  Maryland.  The  following  year, 
however,  one  Josias  Kendall  was  commissioned,  and  apparently  with 
Cromwell’s  sanction,  to  establish  the  proprietor’s  authority  there. 
Nevertheless,  Crayborne  was  reinstated  at  Kent  Island,  while  his 
partisans  sustained  the  rule  of  Puritanism.  There  his  authority  and 
influence  reigned  supreme,  and  he  had  many  partisans  to  uphold  it.27 

A  new  Government  was  now  set  up,  where  the  Puritanical  party 
being  in  the  ascendant  arrogated  the  right  to  rule.  It  had  been  declared 
by  them,  that  no  Catholic  should  sit  in  the  Assembly,  or  vote  for  any  of 
its  members ;  while  an  act  concerning  religion  proclaimed  freedom  of 
conscience,  provided  the  liberty  were  not  extended  to  “  popery,  prelacy, 
or  licentiousness  ”  of  opinion.28  It  was  also  decreed,  that  all  Papists  and 
Prelatists  should  be  excluded  from  any  benefits  #in  the  Statute  of 
Toleration.  Thus,  the  Puritans  had  neither  the  gratitude  to  respect 


23  See  George  Alsop’s  “  Character  of  the 
Province  of  Maryland.”  London,  1666 
12mo. 

24  See  Langford’s  “  Clear  Refutation  ol 
a  False  and  Scandalous  Pamphlet,”  h 
pp.  7,  8. 

26  See  Bancroft’s  “History  of  the  United 
States,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  vii.,  p.  260. 

26  There  are  two  conflicting  accounts  of 
these  transactions  ;  one  of  them  having  a 
partisan  character,  while  reflecting  the 
sentiments  and  opinions  of  the  Puritans, 
by  John  Strong,  and  intituled  “  Babylon’s 
Fall  in  Maryland,”  while  the  other  was  a 
tract  written  as  a  rejoinder,  by  John 


Langford, and  intituled  “ Clear  Refutation 
of  a  False  and  Scandalous  Pamphlet,  en¬ 
titled  “  Babylon’s  Fall  in  Maryland.” 
Both  appeared  in  1655,  4to. 

27  See  Salmon’s  “  History  of  America  ; 
its  Discovery  by  Columbus,  first  Peopling 
of  America,  Wars,  Manners,  Religions, 
&c.”  This  work  appeared  in  two  vols.,  8vo. 

28  It  is  said  Cromwell  did  not  appr  ve 
this  decree,  and  that  he  commanded  the 
Commissioners  “  not  to  busy  themselves 
about  religion,  but  to  settle  the  civil 
government.”—  George  Chalmers’  “  Poli¬ 
tical  Annals  of  the  Present  United  Colo¬ 
nies,”  p.  236. 


ROYALIST  EMIGRATION  TO  VIRGINIA. 


51 


the  rights  of  the  government,  by  which  they  had  been  received  and 
fostered,  nor  magnanimity  to  continue  that  toleration,  which  procured 
their  residence  in  the  colony.29  For  three  years  afterwards,  a  state  of 
civil  war  prevailed  therein ;  one  government  having  been  recog¬ 
nized  at  St.  Mary’s  by  Fendall,  under  Lord  Baltimore’s  patent ;  while 
another  was  organized  at  Providence,  and  this  latter  was  ruled  by  the 
Puritan  Commissioners.30  On  the  restoration  of  Charles  II.,  the  rights 
of  Lord  Baltimore  were  again  established  in  Maryland,  and  his  brother 
Philip  Calvert  was  nominated  governor.  At  this  time,  a.d.  1660, 81  the 
population  of  this  colony  had  been  variedly  estimated  at  eight  thousand 
and  at  twelve  thousand  inhabitants.  This  year  also  the  representatives 
of  Maryland  proclaimed  the  power  of  the  people  in  their  Assembly, 
which  was  subject  alone  to  the  King  of  England.32  The  Act  of  Tolera¬ 
tion  was  again  revived,  and  everywhere  tranquility  prevailed  during 
the  reign  of  Charles  II.,  as  also  during  that  of  his  brother  James  II.33 

The  inhabitants  of  Virginia,  for  the  most  part  Royalists,  sympathised 
with  King  Charles  I.  in  his  struggle  with  the  Parliament.84  When  the 
Commonwealth  had  been  established,  several  of  the  Royalist  party  in 
England  emigrated  to  Virginia,  and  it  was  the  last  colony  that  submitted 
to  the  new  order  of  things.85  A  war,  which  had  been  waged  between 
England  and  Holland  from  1651  to  165436  scarcely  disturbed  the 
tranquility  of  the  colonies  ;  for,  before  the  English  fleet  destined  to  take 
possession  of  the  settlements  on  the  Hudson  had  arrived,  the  European 
Republics  had  composed  their  strife.  When  the  Commonwealth  had  been 
established,  the  colonists  of  Virginia  were  allowed  political  liberties 
such  as  were  enjoyed  by  the  people  of  England,  and  among  these  was 
the  right  of  electing  their  own  governor  by  an  enlarged  constituency, 
and  of  transacting  business  as  formerly  in  their  own  Assembly.  No 
taxes  or  customs  might  be  levied,  except  by  their  own  representatives.37 


29 See  George  Bancroft’s  “History  of 
the  United  States,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  vii., 

p.  261. 

30  See  Dr.  Richard  McSherry’s 
“Early  History  of  Maryland.”  New 
York,  8 vo. 

31  Robert  Pollock,  the  first  of  the  Pollock 
or  Polk  family  in  America,  came  from 
Ireland  to  Baltimore  in  the  seventeenth 
century.  Subsequently  members  of 
this  family  removed  to  North  Carolina. 
From  this  Family  sprung  General 
William  Polk,  of  Mecklenburg  fame, 
who  was  an  Irish-American,  as  also 
Robert  Polk,  a  distinguished  naval  officer. 

32  See  Rev.  Thomas  Bacon's  “Laws 
of  Maryland,”  a.d.  1659,  1660,  pub¬ 
lished  in  1765. 

33  See  John  O’Kane  Murray’s  “  History 
of  the  Catholic  Church  in  the  United 
States.”  New  York,  8vo. 

3*  For  the  particulars  of  this  eventful 


reign,  the  reader  may  consult  Guizot’s 
“  Histoire  de  la  Revolution  d’Angleterrs, 
depuis  i’Avenement  de  Charles  Ier  jusqu* 
a  la  Restoration  de  Charles  II.”  Paris, 
two  tomes,  1826,  1827,  8vo. 

38 See  John  Hammond’s  “Leah  and 
Rachael ;  or  the  two  fruitful  sisters 
Virginia  and  Maryland ;  their  present 
condition  stated,”  p.  16.  This  work 
appeared  in  London,  1656,  4to. 

3B  See  an  account  of  this  war,  in  C.  M. 
Davies’  “History  of  Holland  and  the 
Dutch  Nation,  from  the  Beginning  of 
the  Tenth  Century  to  the  End  of  the 
Eighteenth,”  &c.  Vol.  ii.,  Part  iii.,  chap, 
vii.  In  three  volumes.  London,  1 851, 8vo. 

37  See  Heumg’s  “  Statutes  of  Virginia,  ’ 
Vol.  i.,  pp.  363  to  368.  Also  Thomas 
Jefferson’s  “Notes  on  Virginia.”  This 
work  in  8vo.,  was  first  printed  at  Paris, 
in  17S4.  It  has  since  passed  through 
several  American  editions. 


52 


IRISH  AMERICAN  HISTORY  CF  THE  UNITED  STATES 


This  gave  great  umbrage  to  the  land  owners  and  to  the  aristocratic 
party,  who  were  mostly  Royalists  ;  but.  popular  liberty  triumphed,  and 
Virginia  framed  her  own  laws:  uncontrolled,  while  she  enjoyed  freedom 
of  commerce  with  the  whole  world,  until  the  death  of  Oliver  Cromwell.38 
When  Charles  II.  had  been  restored,39  the  privilege  of  voting  was 
restricted  to  land  owners,  and  these  kept  the  Assembly  in  power, 
regardless  of  the  term  for  which  they  had  been  elected.40  According  to 
the  usual  custom  of  that  time,  when  money  exchanges  were  unknown  or 
inconvenient,  those  members  of.  the  Assembly  received  as  a  salary  two 
hundred  and  fifty  pounds  of  tobacco  each  per  day.  According  to  the 
present  value  of  money,  this  allowance  should  be  calculated  at  about 
forty-five  dollars,  no  inconsiderable  sum  for  the  official  labours  of  those 
colonial  legislators.  In  addition,  severe  taxes  were  imposed  on  the 
people,  who  felt  greatly  discontented  with  the  acts  of  their  rulers. 

Members  of  a  new  sect  called  the  Society  of  Friends  appeared  in 
Boston,  so  early  as  1656.  Soon  these  religionists  showed  themselves  in 
other  colonies.  About  the  year  1648,  the  celebrated  George  Fox  their 
founder  began  to  propagate  his  opinions  in  England,  and  soon  he  suc¬ 
ceeded  in  bringing  many  people  there  to  adopt  them.  He  was  frequently 
arrested  and  treated  with  great  severity,  for  unusual  novelty  in  religion 
was  there  equally  persecuted  as  were  the  oldest  forms  of  worship.  He 
formed  a  sect  known  as  the  Society  of  Friends,  but  denominated  Quakers, 
on  account  of  their  trembling  mode  of  delivery.  Many  of  these  people 
emigrated  to  New  England,  where  they  spoke  and  acted  too  freely  in 
public,  so  as  to  incur  popular  odium.  Members  of  the  Quaker  sect 
became  in  consequence  objects  of  peculiar  aversion.  Especially  from  1656 
tc  1660, 41  they  were  denounced  for  their  opinions  and  practices.42  They 
met  everywhere  the  most  severe  treatment,  and  the  laws  of  Massachu¬ 
setts  provided  that  they  should  be  whipped  at  the  cart’s  tail  from  town 
to  town.  They  were  to  be  branded  with  the  letter  R — meaning  Rogue 
— and  if  they  still  returned  they  were  to  be  hanged.  Bui  in  spite  of 
persecution,  they  continued  to  come.  In  1673,  George  Fox,43  visited 
the  American  colonies,  and  he  preached  in  many  of  the  settlements.44 


38  See  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
Unit'd  States,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  vi.,  p.  280. 

39  For  his  reign,  see  Romney’s 
“Diary  of  the  Times  of  Charles  li.” 
London,  1843,  8vo. 

48  For  many  interesting  particulars 
relating  to  early  Virginian  history, 
the  reader  is  referred  to  the  later 
chapters  of  Vincent  Le  Blanc’s 
“  World  Surveyed,  or  his  famous 
Voyages  and  Travels,  the  whole  en¬ 
riched  with  authentic  Histories.” 
Printed  in  1660,  sm.  fob 

41  From  the  title  ot  a  work  pub¬ 
lished  this  year,  we  may  learn  how 
hostile  had  been  the  feeling  evoked 
Against  them:  “The  Heart  ot  hew 


England  rent,  at  the  Blasphemies  of 
the  present  Generation ;  A  Treatise 
concerning  the  Doctrine  of  the 
Quakers,”  by  J.  Norton.  London,  8vo. 

42  See  Hutchinson’s  “  History  of  the 
Colony  of  Massachusetts-Bay,”  Vol. 
i.,  chap,  i.,  pp.  169  to  205. 

43  In  1671,  when  he  visited  Barba- 
does,  he  advocated  the  cause  of  the 
negro  slaves  and  recommended  the 
planters  to  give  them  freedom  “  after 
certain  years  of  servitude.” 

44  The  Jews  had  arrived  in  America 
long  before  this  period,  and  in  con- 
siderab'e  numbers,  as  appears  froui 
a  work,  written  by  one  Elliot,  and 
published  in  London,  1660,  4to. 


THE  DUKE  OF  YORK  GETS  POSSESSION  OF  THE  DUTCH  COLONY.  53 

Having  come  to  the  English  throne,  Charles  II.45  assumed  the 
Dutch  occupancy  of  North  America  to  be  a  usurpation,  and  on  March 
12th  1664,  lie  granted  the  entire  territory  they  possessed  to  his  brother 
James,  the  Duke  of  York.46  The  colony  of  New  Netherland  then  com¬ 
prised  about  ten  thousand  settlers,  who  were  thinly  scattered  over  a 
great  extent  of  territory  along  the  Hudson  and  Delaware  rivers,  as  also 
in  Long  Island  and  in  New  Jersey.  The  population  of  New  Amsterdam 
at  that  time  consisted  only  of  about  one  thousand  five  hundred  persons. 

In  the  years.  1660  and  1663,  the  English  Parliament  passed  most, 
oppressive  navigation  laws,  which  forbade  the  colonists  to  buy  or  sell  in 
any  country  except  England,  or  to  export  their  produce  in  any  vessels 
except  those  that  were  English.  These  laws  were  procured  through  the 
avarice  of  English  merchants  and  manufacturers,  and  of  course  the 
monopoly  pressed  heavily  on  American  colonial  industry.47  Everything 
the  colonists  required  to  purchase  was  thus  raised  in  price,  while  every¬ 
thing  they  sold  was  greatly  lowered  in  value.  Those  unjust  laws  gave 
great  dissatisfaction  to  the  settlers,  but  they  were  powerless  to  offer 
any  effective  resistance,  and  they  had  to  accept  accordingly  such  burdens 
as  were  imposed  upon  them. 

In  the  midsummer  of  1664,  the  Catholic  Duke  of  York,  Lord  High 
Admiral,  sent  out  a  squadron  of  four  English  vessels.  These  entered 
the  Bay,  to  claim  for  himself  the  trans-Atlantic  colony  in  the  name  of 
his  brother  King  Charles  II.  When  the  English  troops  arrived  for  the 
purpose  of  taking  possession  in  August  1664,  and  under  the  command 
of  Colonel  Richard  Nicolls,48  he  summoned  the  Dutch  colonists  there  to 
surrender.  Stuyvesaut  desired  to  resist  him.  The  Dutch  would  not 
fight  however,  and  the  English  declared  for  their  own  countrymen. 
The  town  surrendered  without  any  resistance.  Colonel  Nicolls  assumed 
the  office  of  governor.  The  iflf  me  of  New  Amsterdam  was  then  changed 
to  New  York.  Thus,  its  garrison,  with  all  the  other  Dutch  settle¬ 
ments  on  the  Hudson  and  Delaware  rivers,  as  also  in  New  Jersey, 
promptly  surrendered,  while  the  whole  Dutch  colony  passed  peaceably 
under  English  rule.  In  the  year  1664,  the  Duke  of  York  conveyed  the 
territory  between  the  Hudson  and  Delaware  rivers  to  Lord  Berkeley, 
brother  to  the  governor  of  Virginia,  and  to  George  Carteret,  governor 
over  the  Island  of  Jersey  in  the  English  channel.  In  compliment  to  the 


45  He  became  king  de  facto,  May  29th, 
1660. 

46  In  exile,  this  King  had  written  his 
own  Memoirs,  but  they  are  said  to  have 
been  destroyed  at  the  period  of  the  French 
Revolution.  Charles  James  Fox  has 
published  a  well  known  work,  “  History 
of  the  Early  Part  of  the  Reign  of  James 
the  Second,’’  London,  1808,  4to. 

47  Even  in  1666,  when  heavy  duties  and 
prohibitions  had  been  imposed  on  Irish 
products  and  commerce,  it  was  forbidden 
to  trade  “  with  the  English  plantations.” 


— Catherine  Macauly  Graham’s  “  History 
of  England  from  the  Accession  of  James 
I.  to  the  Revolution,”  Vol.  vi.,  chap,  iii.,, 
p.  220.  London,  1781,  4to. 

48  It  is  remarkable  that  in  the  Papers, 
or  memoirs  of  James  II.,  he  is  called 
Colonel  Richard  Nicholas.  See  “  The 
Life  of  James  the  Second,  King  of  Eng- 
laid,  &c.,  collected  out  of  Memoirs  writ, 
by  his  own  hand,”  &c.  By  Rev.  J.  S. 
Clarke,  LL.B.  Vol.  i.,  Tome  ii.,  p.  400. 
This  interesting  historic  work  was  pub* 
lished  in  London,  1816,  in  two  4to  vola. 


54 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


latter,  the  district  was  also  named  New  Jersey.  That  same  year,  some 
Englishmen  from  Long  Island  had  planted  Elizabeth  Town,  which  was 
so  named  in  honour  of  Lady  Carteret.  On  July  12th  1665,  the  City  of 
New  York  was  incorporated  by  a  special  charter. 

In  the  year  1663,  King  Charles  II.  erected  a  vast  and  vacant 
territory,  comprising  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Alabama 
and  a  part  of  Florida,  into  the  province  of  Carolina,  He  bestowed  this 
great  tract  upon  eight  proprietors.49  These  were  the  Prime  Minister,  the 
Earl  of  Clarendon,  General  Monk  Duke  of  Albemarle,  Lord  Ashley 
Cooper,  who  was  afterwards.  Earl  of  Shaftesbury,  Lord  Berkeley,  Sir 
George  Carteret,  Sir  William.  Berkeley,  Lord  Craven,  and  Sir  John 
Colleton.  Under  the  Clarendon  grant,  the  Albemarle  County  colony 
was  set  up  in  1664,  when  plantations  began  in  the  present  North 
Carolina.  On  the  present  site  of  Wilmington,  some  New  Englanders 
had  already  settled,  and  these  were  joined  by  colonists  from  Barbadoes, 
who  established  themselves,  near  the  mouth  of  Cape  Fear  river. 
These  formed  the  Clarendon  Colony.50  They  soon  engaged  in  felling 
the  pine  woods  of  that  region,  and  thus  they  formed  a  branch  of  trade 
and  commerce,  in  the  preparation  and  exportation  of  boards,  staves  and 
shingles.  The  celebrated  English  philosopher  John  Locke  had  been 
instructed  by  the  Earl  of  Shaftesbury,  to  frame  a  form  of  government 
for  the  province  of  Carolina.  This  code  provided  for  a  feudal 
nobility  and  for  aristocratic  institutions,  while  the  established  Church 
of  England  was  to  become  the  prevailing  form  of  religion.  The  people 
at  large  were  to  be  tenants  or  serfs  to  the  lords’  proprietors.51  How¬ 
ever,  this  form  of  constitution  in  that  distant  country  soon  led  to  dis¬ 
putes  between  the  proprietors  and  the  tenants,  relative  to  the  rents  and 
taxes.  Various  quarrels  and  disorders  arose,  during  the  course  of  which 
more  than  one  open  insurrection  broke  out  in  North  Carolina.  The 
settlers  there  asserted  the  right  of  managing  their  own  affairs  and  of 
governing  themselves. 

South  Carolina  was  so  called  from  Charles  II.,  in  whose  reign  it  was 
first  settled  at  Port  Royal  by  the  English,  and  in  the  year  1670,  The 
settlements  in  the  present  South  Carolina  were  formerly  known  as  the 
Carteret  Colony  under  the  Clarendon  Grant.  After  their  first  settlement 
however  on  the  Ashley  River,  the  colonists  removed  to  a  better  situation, 
at  the  junction  of  the  Ashley  and  Cooper  Rivers,  where  they  founded 
the  present  city  of  Charleston.  Soon  after  its  formation,  immigrants 
began  to  arrive  from  New  York,  Holland  and  Scotland.  Also  Presby¬ 
terians  from  the  North  of  Ireland  arrived  in  great  numbers.  A  colony 
of  Irish  under  Ferguson,  lured  by  the  fame  of  South  Carolina’s  fertility, 
received  a  hearty  welcome,  and  soon  these  settlers  were  merged  among 


49  See  “Fundamental  Constitutions  of 
Carolina.’’  London,  1669,  4to. 

80  See  “  Brief e  Description  of  the  Pro¬ 
vince  of  Carolina,  ontheCoasts  of  Florida, 
and  of  a  new  Plantation  begun  by  the 


English  at  Cape  Feare.”  Lond.,  1666, 4to. 

51  See  the  edition  of  “  Works  of 
John  Locke”  in  nine  volumes,  vol.  ix. 
The  Fundamental  Constitutions  of  Caro¬ 
lina,  pp,  175  to  199.  London,  1794, 8vo, 


SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  CAROLINAS.  55 

the  other  colonists.52  In  1686  and  168Z,  Huguenots  or  French  Calvi¬ 
nists  came  in  great  numbers.  The  original  settlers  however  regarded 
them  with  jealousy,  so  that  several  years  elapsed,  before  they  were 
received  there  as  privileged  citizens.  Turbulent  proceedings  among 
the  people  in  this  province  caused  frequent  revolts  against  the  pro¬ 
prietors.53  In  the  year  1671,  slaves  were  introduced  from  Barbadoes 
to  South  Carolina,  which  was  mostly  inhabited  by  planters.54  These 
employed  them  on  their  several  plantations.  The  trade  in  negro  slaves 
was  then  in  full  vigour,  for  the  mother  country  had  already  permitted 
the  introduction  of  slave  labour  into  her  North  American  colonies.55 
Tne  peculiarities  of  climate  and  of  soil  tended  to  promote  manufactur¬ 
ing  industry,  chiefly  in  the  Northern  Provinces,  and  agricultural 
occupations  more  in  the  Southern  States.  Possessing  few  of  those 
qualities,  which  are  so  essential  to  excel  in  manufactures,  and  being 
peculiarly  suited  for  field  labour  in  the  South,  the  enslaved  negro  by 
degrees  gravitated  southwards.  The  Southern  and  Northern  States  in 
course  of  time  became  almost  as  distinctly  defined,  by  the  terms  of 
slave-holding  and  non-slaveholding  States,  as  by  their  geographic 
positions.  After  a  series  of  conflicts  with  the  people,  their  governor 
James  Colleton  was  banished  in  1690,  by  a  meeting  of  the  representa¬ 
tives  of  South  Carolina.  One  of  the  North  Carolina  proprietors, 
named  Sothel,  and  who  had  been  expelled  from  his  own  place,  was  next 
chosen  as  governor.  Only  two  years  elapsed,  until  he  was  in  turn 
impeached.  The  next  Governor  Ludwell  was  likewise  expelled,  for 
there  was  then  no  regular  force  to  restrain  the  proceedings  of  those 
colonists.  Several  immigrant  Irish  families  settled  in  North  Carolina, 
after  the  Williamite  and  Jacobite  war  in  Ireland. 

Charles  II.  had  granted  to  Lord  Culpepper  and  to  the  Earl  of 
Arlington  in  1673,  and  for  a  period  of  thirty-one  years,  the  quit- rents 
and  escheats  of  Virginia,  without  any  regard  of  existing  colonial  rights 
and  privileges.56  On  the  borders  of  Maryland,  an  Indian  war  broke  out 
in  1C75,  and  the  Virginians  were  now  obliged  to  arm  for  defence.  They 
chose  a  popular  young  plant<  r,  named  Nathaniel  Bacon,  for  their  leader. 
At  this  time,  Sir  William  1  e  'keley  was  governor,  and  he  greatly  mis¬ 
trusted  Bacon’s  intentions.  The  latter  had  marched  against  the  Indians, 
whom  he  easily  overcame.  The  governor  now  proclaimed  him  a  rebel, 
as  he  had  collected  a  military  force  to  oppose  the  ruling  authorities.  A 
rising  of  the  popular  party  to  resist  aristocratic  ascendancy  obliged 
government  to  dissolve  the  Assembly,  which  had  then  sat  for  an 
exorbitant  time.  A  new  one  was  elected,  universal  suffrage  was  restored, 
arbitrary  taxation  was  abolished,  while  various  legislative  and  adminis- 


52  See  George  Chalmers’  “Political 
Annals  of  the  Present  United  Colonies,’' 
p.  543. 

63  See  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
United  States,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  xiii.,  pp. 
172  to  187. 


64  See  “  An  Account  of  Carolina,” 
.  by  T.  A.  London,  1682,  4to. 

58  See  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
United  States,’’  Vol.  i.,  chap,  v.,  pp. 
159  to  193. 

86  See  Hugh  Murray's  “  United 


56  IRISH-AM ERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


trative  abuses  were  suppressed.  Meanwhile,  Bacon  marched  against 
Jamestown,  which  he  burned  to  the  ground  in  September,  1676,  having' 
forced  Sir  William  Berkeley  to  evacuate  the  place,  and  to  retire  with  his 
whole  force  to  the  eastern  shore.  Bacon  now  declared  the  governor  to 
have  abdicated,  and  he  summoned  an  Assembly  in  his  own  name. 
It  was  resolved  to  resist  any  attempts  from  England  to  restore 
Berkeley’s  power,  and  it  was  almost  intended  to  throw  off  the  foreign 
yoke.  Nothing  remained  but  to  cross  the  river,  and  to  crush  the 
remnant  of  Berkeley’s  forces.  In  the  midst  of  his  successes,  however, 
and  after  a  short  illness,  Bacon  died  of  fever.57  His  followers,  thus 
discouraged,  were  dispersed  and  soon  overcome.  Many  of  them  were 
made  prisoners.  The  Governor  treated  those  insurgents  with  the 
greatest  severity,  and  he  caused  no  less  than  twenty-two  to  be  hanged. 
He  was  exceedingly  unpopular,  wmie  ruling  in  Virginia.  After  these 
transactions  he  returned  to  England,  where  he  died  in  disgrace.  Mean¬ 
while,  Colonel  Jeffereys  was  sent  out  with  two  other  Commissioners,  to 
enquire  about  and  to  report  on  the  condition  of  Virginia.  The  result 
was  a  censure,  pronounced  on  the  government  and  on  several  members 
of  the  Council,  after  a  searching  examination.  The  conduct  of  the 
insurgents  was  likewise  strongly  condemned.  During  the  brief  period 
of  his  administration,  Jeffereys  had  the  credit  of  putting  an  end  to  the 
Indian  war.58  In  the  year  1673,  the  people  of  New  York  were  again 
in  a  state  of  insurrection.  At  that  time,  the  Dutch  and  English  had 
been  at  war.  A  small  Dutch  fleet,  commanded  by  Evertzen,  entered 
the  Bay  of  New  York,  and  without  any  difficulty  the  crew  obtained 
possession  of  that  town.  Under  the  English  governors,  Nicolls  and  his 
successor  Lovelace,  a  court  of  assizes,  composed  of  a  council  and  justices 
of  the  peace  appointed  by  themselves,  held  supreme  sway.  The  whole 
power  legislative,  executive  and  judicial  vested  in  the  governor  and  in 
that  body.  When  peace  was  proclaimed  however,  the  territory  of  Mew 
Netherland  was  ceded  to  England. 

The  western  half  of  New  Jersey  was  sold  by  Lord  Berkeley  to  the 
Quakers.59  They  found  security  there,  by  settling  a  colony  of  their 
own  in  the  year  1675.  Later  still,  they  bought  East  Jersey  from 
Carteret.  This  division  had  been  for  the  most  part  settled  by  the 
Puritans.60  A  family  of  Thompsons  and  one  Robert  Zane — who  appear 
to  have  been  Quakers — left  Ireland  in  1677,  and  settled  in  Salem,  where 
through  their  industry,  they  attained  a  good  living.  A  few  years  after¬ 
wards,  some  Friends  that  dwelt  in  Ireland  and  others  that  came  thither 
from  England  resolved  on  removing  to  the  New  World.  In  order 
thereto,  they  sent  from  Dublin  to  one  Thomas  Lunkin,  a  Friend  in 


States  of  America,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  iv., 

p.  139. 

67  See  “  Strange  News  from  Virginia, 
being  a  full  and  true  Account  of  the 
Life  and  Death  of  Nathaniel  Bacon, 
Governor  of  Virginia.”  London,  1677, 
4t°* 


58 See  George  Chalmers*  “Political 
Annals  of  the  present  United  Colonies,” 
pp.  337,  338. 

89  See  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
United  States,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  xvi.,  p.  355. 
60  See  “  A  Briefe  Account  of  East 

Jersey,”  London,  1682,  4to. 


FRENCH  EXPLORATIONS. 


57 


London,  and  commander  of  a  punk.  He  came  and  made  his  arrange¬ 
ments,  to  transport  them  into  New  Jersey,  viz.  :  Mark  Newby,  Thomas 
Thackeray,  William  Bate,  George  Goldsmith  and  Thomas  Sharp,01  then 
a  young  man  and  single.  But  while  the  ship  lay  at  Dublin,  Thomas 
Lunkin  getting  sick  remained  behind,  and  putting  the  command  under 
his  mate  John  Daggar,  the  latter  set  sail  on  the  19th  of  September. 
Having  safely  landed,  they  were  well  entertained  at  the  house  of  the 
Thompsons.  The  newly  arrived  immigrants  there  resided  for  the  winter, 
which  proved  to  be  moderate.  At  Wickacoa — now  Philadelphia — they 
purchased  a  boat  of  the  Swansons,  and  so  went  on  to  Burlington.  They 
sought  land  Commissioners,  from  whom  they  obtained  a  warrant  of 
survey.  The  Surveyor-General  was  one  Daniel  Seeds.  After  some 
considerable  search  to  and  fro,  in  what  was  then  called  “the  third  place  of 
the  Irish  tenth,”  those  immigrants  at  last  pitched  upon  that  spot,  then 
called  Newtown.  This  happened  before  the  settlement  of  Philadelphia. 
In  the  spring  of  1082,  all  removed  from  Salem,  together  with  Robert 
Zane,  who  had  before  gone  with  the  Thompsons  from  Ireland,  and  who 
also  had  been  expecting  the  newly  arrived  from  that  same  country.  Thus 
was  began  their  settlement ;  and  though  they  were  at  times  pretty  hard 
pressed,  having  to  fetch  all  their  provisions  from  Salem  by  water,  yet 
they  were  preserved  in  health  and  from  any  extreme  difficulty.  A 
meeting  was  immediately  set  up  at  the  house  of  Mark  Newby,02  and  in 
a  short  time  it  grew  and  increased.  A  Mr.  Cooper  and  his  family  that 
lived  at  the  Poynte  also  resorted  to  that  assembly.  The  writer  of  this 
account  adds,  that  they  had  then  zeal  and  fervency  of  spirit,  although 
they  had  some  dread  of  the  Indians,  as  a  savage  people. 

Religious  freedom  was  proclaimed,  in  the  reign  of  James  II. ;  and 
Colonel  Thomas  Dongan  an  Irish  Catholic  gentleman  03  was  appointed 
governor  of  New  York,04  in  1682.  His  instructions  were  to  conciliate 
the  French,  and  to  give  no  countenance  to  hostile  Indian  tribes.  How¬ 
ever,  he  was  accused  of  inciting  the  Five  Nations  to  war.  In  1688, 
he  was  obliged  to  resign  his  office.05 

A  long  lapse  of  time  occurred,  after  the  failure  of  De  Soto’s  expedition, 
before  the  Mississippi  Valley  was  further  explored  by  the  French  from 
New  France,  now  Canada.  The  Western  Indians  had  made  known  to 
them  the  existence  of  a  great  river,  which  flowed  from  north  to  south. 


1  He  is  the  writer  who  furnishes  this 
ac<  ount. 

42  This  Newby  brought  out  many 
halfpence  in  1680,  which  were  called 
Patrick  money,  and  some  of  them  were 
preserved  by  Joseph  0.  Cooper  in 
Newtown.  See  Watson’s  “Annals  of 
Philadelphia,”  and  note.  Appendix. 

63  He  was  born  in  Castletown,  County 
of  Kildare  in  1634. 

^  See  John  Gilmary  Shea’s  “The 
Catholic  Churches  of  New  York  City, 
with  Sketches  of  their  History  and 


Lives  of  the  present  Pastors,-’  &c.. 
Introduction,  pp.  21  to  23. 

65  He  returned  to  England  three  years 
later,  and  he  died  in  London,  Decem¬ 
ber  14th,  1715.  See  Appleton’s  “Cyclo¬ 
paedia  of  American  Biography,”  edited 
by  James  Grant  Wilson  and  John 
Fiske.  Vol.  ii.,  p.  200.  This  invaluable 
work  for  the  elucidation  of  American 
History  and  Biography  was  published 
at  New  York,  in  six  large  imperial  8vo. 
volumes,  double  columns,  by  Appleton 
and  Co.,  18S7  to  1889. 


58 


IUISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Accordingly,  Jean  Baptist  Talon  Intendant  of  Canada  engaged  Father 
Marquette,  a  French  Jesuit,  with  Jolliet,  a  merchant  citizen  of  Quebec, 
and  three  others,  to  set  out  from  a  bay  off  Lake  Michigan — probably  that 
now  called  Green  Bay— to  explore  the  Mississippi  River.66  At  first, 
they  ascended  Fox  River  in  a  birch-bark  canoe,  and  reached  a  point 
near  its  source.  Afterwards,  guided  by  some  Algonquin  Indians,  and 
carrying  on  their  backs  canoes,  they  reached  the  Wisconsin  River  and 
continued  down  this  stream  to  its  junction  with  the  Mississippi,  which 
opened  on  their  view  the  17th  June  1673,  near  the  present  site  of 
Prairie  du  Chien,  in  the  State  of  Wisconsin.  Then  they  floated  down 
the  mighty  current,  holding  friendly  intercourse  with  the  Illinois, 
Missouri  and  other  Indian  tribes.  To  these  Father  Marquette  announced 
the  truths  of  the  Gospel,  and  taught  them  a  necessity  for  believing  in 
and  adoring  the  great  Creator.  After  some  occasional  delays,  they 
reached  the  mouth  of  the  Arkansas  River.67  There  they  found  Indiana 
in  possession  of  firearms  and  steel  axes,  which  were  taken  to  be  evidencea 
of  their  intercourse  with  the  Spaniards  in  Florida,  or  with  the  English 
in  Virginia.  Returning  from  the  mouth  of  the  Arkansas,  Marquetta 
and  his  companions  passed  up  the  Illinois  River,  and  discovered  much 
of  the  adjoining  country  in  July  1674.  Jolliet  returned  to  Quebec  with 
a  report  of  their  success  ;  but  Father  Marquette  remained  in  the  country 
about  Chicago,  announcing  the  truths  of  salvation  to  the  Miami  Indians, 
At  Mackinaw,  on  the  19th  of  May  1675,  and  on  the  banks  of  that  river 
which  now  bears  his  name,  the  holy  missioner  calmly  expired  in  the 
loneliness  of  the  forest;  but, without  a  human  eye  to  witness  his  angelh 
departure.  He  had  just  finished  the  celebration  of  Mass  on  the  shore, 
and  then  he  retired  to  pray  in  the  depth  of  the  woods.  His  two  com¬ 
panions  sought  him  half-an-hour  afterwards,  but  they  only  found  his 
lifeless  body.  Their  grief  and  surprise  were  extreme.68  They  dug  a 
solitary  grave  and  deposited  his  remains  near  the  waters  of  Lake 
Michigan.69 

Petty  warfare  often  disturbed  the  industrial  occupations  of  the  hardy 
backwoodsman,70  when  the  passions  and  jealousies  of  the  Red  Men  had 
been  roused.  A  new  and  more  terrible  Indian  war  than  any  yet 
experienced  broke  out  in  1675.  The  Whampanoags,  or  Pokanokets,  on 


An  interesting  account  of  their  tra¬ 
vels  may  be  found  in  that  most  learned 
end  admirable  work  of  John  Gilmary 
Shea,  “  The  Catholic  Church  in  Colo¬ 
nial  Days.”  Yol  i.,  Book  iii.,  chap,  v., 
pp.  310  to  320. 

67  See  John  Gilmary  Shea’s  “  Discovery 
and  exploration  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley.”  New  York,  pp.  3  to  52, 1852, 8vo. 

68  Such  is  the  account  of  his  death  as 
given  in  an  article  written  by  Rev. 
Martin  J.  Spalding — afterwards  Catholic 
Archbishop  of  Baltimore — and  intitu¬ 
led,  “Discovery  of  the  Mississippi,”  and 


published  in  the  “  Catholic  Cabinet,” 
Vol.  i.,  No.  4,  p.  196.  St.  Louis,  1843, 
et  seq  8vo.  It  differs  in  details,  however, 
from  that  furnished,  regarding  the  de¬ 
parture  of  Father  Marquette,  in  John 
Gilmary  Shea’s  “  Catholic  Church  in 
Colonial  Days.”  Book  iii. ,  chap,  v.,  pp. 
317,  318. 

09  See  John  Gilmary  Shea’s  “Early 
Voyages  up  and  down  the  Mississippi,” 
Albany,  N.Y.,  1861. 

70  See  William  Hubbard’s  “  Narrative 
of  the  Indian  Wars  in  New  England” 
Published  at  Boston  in  1775. 


NEW  ENGLAND  WARS.  59 

the  east  side  of  Narraganset  Bay,  were  then  ruled  by  the  nephew  and 
successor  of  Massasoit,  and  who  was  named  Pometacom,  but  he  was 
better  known  to  the  colonists  as  King  Philip.  This  celebrated  Indian 
Chief  had  been  jealous  of  the  white  colonists  and  their  encroachments, 
and  besides  some  of  his  tribe  had  been  hanged  by  them  on  charge  of 
murder.  He  resolved  to  wage  a  destructive  war,  which  commenced  in 
the  month  of  June,  and  which  was  directed  against  the  New  England 
settlers.71  A  body  of  Massachusetts  volunteers  pursued  Pometacom 
through  the  swamps  and  forests.  He  escaped,  however,  into  the  interior 
of  Massachusetts.  There  the  Nipmuc  tribe  had  likewise  taken  arms 
against  the  whites,  and  they  prepared  for  war.  In  a  short  time,  there  was 
a  general  rising  of  the  Indians  all  over  New  England.  They  were  never 
more  dangerous  than  at  that  time,  because  the  colonists  had  supplied  many 
of  them  with  arms,  which  they  had  learned  to  use  with  skill.  Brookfield, 
Northfield  and  Deerfield  were  burned.  At  Deerfield,  Captain  Lathrop 
and  eighty  men  were  killed  in  an  ambuscade.72  The  people  of  the  out¬ 
lying  settlements  felt  dreadfully  alarmed.  Those  immediately  abandoned 
their  backwoods’  homes,  and  lied  to  the  larger  towns. 

An  attempt  was  now  made  to  revive  the  New  England  Union.  A 
thousand  men,  and  half  of  these  to  be  mounted  dragoons,  were  levied 
at  the  joint  expense  of  the  confederated  colonies.  A  second  thousand 
were  voted  for  a  special  expedition  against  the  Narragansets,  who  had 
given  aid  and  shelter  to  the  hostile  tribes.  Small  parties  of  troops  on 
the  march  were  cut  off  and  destroyed.  In  December  1675,  thirteen 
companies  of  troops  from  Massachusetts,  Plymouth  and  Connecticut 
were  commanded  by  Josiah  Winslow,  Governor  of  Plymouth.  He 
attacked  the  Narragansets,  in  one  of  their  ancient  strongholds.  The 
fort  was  built  on  a  rising  ground  and  in  the  midst  of  a  swamp.  It  was 
surrounded  by  a  palisade,  and  by  a  close  hedge,  which  was  fifteen  or  six¬ 
teen  feet  in  thickness.  The  only  approach  to  it  was  through  a  narrow 
entrance.  This  pathway  was  defended  by  a  tree  which  had  been  thrown 
across,  while  there  was  a  blockhouse  of  logs  in  front  and  another  on  the 
flank,  to  protect  their  chief  position.  As  the  colonists  advanced  to  the 
attack,  they  were  met  by  a  severe  fire.  Many  of  them  fell  dead  and 
wounded.  After  two  hours  fighting,  they  at  length  forced  an  entrance. 
They  set  fire  to  the  wigwams.  Numbers  of  the  unfortunate  Indians 
perished  in  the  flames.73  In  killed  and  wounded  the  colonists  lost  about 
two  hundred  and  forty  men,  during  this  severe  engagement.  The  site  of 


71  An  interesting  narrative  of  this  war 
■was  printed  at  Boston,  in  1716.  It  is 
intituled  :  “  The  entertaining  History  of 
King  Philip’s  War,  which  began  in  the 
month  of  June,  1675.  As  also  of  Expe¬ 
ditions  more  lately  made  against  the 
common  Enemy,  and  Indian  Rebels,  in 
the  eastern  Parts  of  New  England  :  with 
some  Account  of  the  Divine  Providence 
towards  Col.  Benjamin  Church  :  ”  by 


Thomas  Church,  Esq.,  his  Son.  Several 
editions  of  this  graphic  work  have  since 
appeared  in  the  United  States. 

72  Dr.  Increase  Mather  has  furnished 
a  detailed  account  of  these  transactions, 
in  his  “History  of  the  Wars  with  the 
Indians  in  New  England.  June  24th  1675, 
to  August  12th,  1676.”  London, 1676, 4to. 

73  See  Cotton  Mather’s  “History  of 
New  England,”  London,  1702,  4to. 


6U  IR1SH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

that  Indian  fort  is  now  the  town  of  South  Kingston  in  Rhode 
Island. 

Their  misfortunes  exasperated  the  Narragansets  more,  and  these 
revenged  themselves  upon  the  isolated  settlements.  More  dreadful  than 
ever,  this  contest  assumed  new  features  of  horror.  Warwick  was  then 
burned.  Providence  was  attacked  and  partly  destroyed.  The  whole 
colony  of  Plymouth  was  overrun.  Simultaneously  and  from  all  quarters, 
the  Indian  onslaughts  were  made.  In  March  1676,  Captain  Pierce 
and  fifty  colonists  with  some  friendly  Indians  were  destroyed.  While 
trying  to  cover  the  Plymouth  towns,  those  men  fell  into  an  ambush.  In 
April,  Captain  Wadsworth  and  fifty  men  were  surprised  and  killed, 
while  they  were  marching  to  the  relief  of  Sudbury.  In  May,  Captain 
Turner,  who  had  been  returning  from  a  slaughter  of  Indians  on  the 
Connecticut,  was  entrapped.  He  was  slain  together  with  thirty-eight 
of  his  men.  At  Hadley,  Massachusetts,  the  savages  made  a  sudden 
descent  upon  that  settlement.  The  people  were  assembled  in  their 
church  at  that  time.  In  the  midst  of  their  confusion,  an  old  man  with 
a  long  beard  rallied  the  terrified  colonists  and  took  command  of  the 
defence.  He  was  a  stranger  in  the  place,  but  he  manifested  the  most 
determined  bravery.  So  soon  as  the  Indians  had  been  beaten  of!  he 
disappeared.  Many  of  the  settlers  were  under  an  impression  that  they 
had  been  miraculously  saved  by  an  angel  of  the  Lord.  Afterwards, 
they  discovered  his  identity  and  his  reasons  for  concealment.  He  was 
General  William  Goffe,  one  of  the  regicides  or  Puritan  judges  who  con¬ 
demned  King  Charles  I.  to  death,  and  who  now  sought  refuge  among 
the  New  Englanders.74  After  the  restoration  of  the  Stuarts,  he  fled  to 
America,  with  his  father-in-law,  Whalley.  He  was  there  hunted  from 
town  to  town,  and  from  forest  to  cave,  with  a  price  set  on  his  head. 
For  the  last  fifteen  years  of  his  life,  he  had  been  concealed  at  Hadley. 

This  war  of  surprises  lasted  for  more  than  a  year.  Many  persons 
were  massacred  in  the  settlements,  while  those  Indian  raids  continued. 
The  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  regarded  it  as  a  punishment  for 
the  sins  and  extravagances  of  the  people.  Among  other  offences,  they 
mentioned  pride,  profanity,  cheating  and  the  wearing  of  long  hair  by 
the  men.  Toleration  of  the  Quakers  they  also  held  to  have  been  a 
heinous  offence.  The  persecution  of  the  Quakers  was  again  renewed. 
Still  more  effectual  methods  for  defence  were  taken.  The  colonists 
called  out  troops  and  placed  garrisons  in  the  towns.  Bands  of 
Mohegans  and  other  friendly  Indians  were  kept  in  training  and  reserve. 

After  long  evading  the  English  by  the  rapidity  of  his  movements, 
King  Philip  returned  to  his  own  stronghold  at  Mount  Hope  or 
Pokanoket.  There  he  was  supported  by  his  relative  Witamo,  who  was 
the  female  sachem  of  Pocasset.  On  the  1st  August  1676,  the  camp  of 
Philip  was  surprised  by  Major  Church,  with  a  body  of  English  and 
Indian  volunteers.  Philip  escaped  however ;  but  his  wife  and  son  were 

74  See  that  interesting  narrative  of  Pre-  Judges  of  King  Charles  I.*  These  lived 
sident  Stiles,  “A  Hist  ay  of  Three  of  the  concealed  among  the  c  flonists 


king  Philip’s  Indian  war. 


61 


captured  ;  the  boy  was  sold  as  a  slave  in  Bermuda.  More  than  a 
hundred  of  the  Wha/npanoags  and  most  of  Witamo’s  followers  were 
killed.  Witamo  herself  was  drowned  in  trying  to  get  away.  Her  head 
was  afterwards  cut  off'  and  set  up  on  a  pole  in  Taunton.  A  few  days 
later  and  towards  the  closing  of  August,  being  sough t  for  in  his  haunts, 
and  attacked  again  by  Chinch,  Philip  was  betrayed  and  afterwards 
killed  in  a  swamp,  by  one  of  his  own  people,  who  had  deserted  from 
his  chief.  The  head  of  Philip  was  carried  in  triumph  to  Plymouth, 
and  one  of  his  hands  was  given  to  the  man  who  had  shot  him.  Soon 
afterwards,  Major  Church  succeeded  in  capturing  Annawon,  who  still 
ranged  the  woods  with  his  Indian  band.  This  chief  was  afterwards 
put  to  death  by  the  English.  More  than  two  thousand  of  the  Indians 
were  killed  or  captured,  during  these  protracted  struggles.  Most  of  the 
captives  were  either  hanged  or  reduced  to  slavery.  In  this  disastrous 
war,  the  colonists  lost  fully  six  hundred  men  in  battle.  Twelve  or 
thirteen  towns  were  entirely  ruined,  others  were  partly  burned.  The 
losses  in  money  were  estimated  at  about  one  million  of  dollars.  On 
the  other  hand,  when  King  Philip’s  war  ceased,  the  power  of  the 
savages  in  New  England  was  for  ever  broken.75  After  tins  war,  great 
suffering  prevailed  in  New  England.  From  Ireland  was  received  a 
small  contribution  about  that  time,  to  relieve  in  part  those  distresses 
felt  by  the  Plymouth  colony.76  From  this  time  forward,  the  tribes  in 
New  England  fast  dwindled  away,  nor  were  the  Indians  remaining 
ever  capable  afterwards  of  seriously  molesting  the  white  settlers. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


Misgovernment  of  Virginia — Settlement  of  Pennsylvania  by  William  Penn — 
Explorations  of  the  Chevalier  de  la  Salle  and  Father  Louis  Henepin  on  the 
Mississippi — Abrogation  of  the  Colonial  Charters — Commotions  in  Mary  land — 
Irish  Colonization — William  Penn’s  Rights  restored  in  Pennsylvania — Progress 
of  French  Colonization — Witchcraft  Prosecutions  in  New  England — War 
between  France  and  England. 

The  American  Colonies  were  too  distant  from,  and  their  affairs  were 
badly  regulated  or  controlled  by,  the  parent  country.  Favouritism  and 
influence  in  England  enabled  monopolising  individuals  or  companies  to 
take  advantage  of  their  local  opportunities  to  ingratiate  themselves  with 
the  government,  irrespective  of  that  interest  which  should  be  felt  for  tlie 
welfare  and  just  sensibilities  of  dependent  subjects.  In  the  year  1680, 
Lord  Culpepper,  although  vested  with  extraordinary  privileges  and 
powers,  yet  reluctantly  went  out  as  Governor  of  Virginia.  In  order  to 
enrich  himself,  he  raised  the  governor’s  allowance  to  an  exorbitant 

78  See  Caleb  Moore’s  “War  in  New  76  See  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
England  ended.”  London,  1677,  fol.  United  States,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  xii.,  p.  109. 


62 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


amount,  and  he  loaded  the  colony  with  fresh  burdens.  He  enforced  in  a 
grasping  manner  his  proprietary  patent,  while  he  altered  the  value  of  the 
coin.  His  avarice  was  truly  shameless.  His  stay  in  Virginia  however 
was  but  of  short  continuance,  nor  did  he  like  it  as  a  residence.  Having 
no  sympathies  in  common  with  the  colonists,  we  need  scarcely  wonder 
that  he  became  exceedingly  unpopular.  Heavy  complaints  regarding 
his  conduct  were  sent  to  King  Charles,  and  Culpepper’s  commission  of 
governor  was  declared  to  be  forfeited.  Then  Virginia  was  treated  as 
a  royal  colony,  no  future  ruler  being  allowed  to  hold  office  except  at 
the  pleasure  of  the  Crown.  In  the  year  1683,  Lord  Howard  of 
Effingham  became  the  next  governor.  Under  his  rule,  the  misery  of  the 
people  there  was  increased,  and  poverty  widely  spread.  His  own  profit 
was  secured  by  excessive  fees  and  by  the  meanest  acts.  Among  the 
humbler  classes  especially,  murmurs  of  discontent  were  very  prevalent, 
but  no  prospect  seemed  to  be  afforded  for  any  improvement  of  their 
condition.  Under  James  II.  his  arbitrary  rule  was  continued,  until 
the  Assembly  and  people  brought  heavy  charges  against  him.  Lord 
Howard  of  Effingham  returned  to  England  in  1688.  Notwithstanding 
the  accusations  incriminating  him,  King  William  III.  had  that  lord 
reinstated  ;  but  his  functions  were  discharged  tnrough  a  deputy  Colonel 
Nicholson.  At  first  he  sought  to  promote  the  welfare  of  the  colonists, 
yet  afterwards  his  course  of  action  became  changed  in  their  regard.1 

As  we  have  already  seen,  the  Quakers  had  long  been  persecuted  in 
England.2  At  length  a  leading  member  of  their  community  turned  his 
thoughts  to  the  trans- Atlantic  regions,  and  he  resolved  there  to  form  a 
colony.  The  son  of  a  renowned  English  Admiral,  William  Penn3  had 
been  sent  to  Ireland  in  1666,  to  superintend  the  management  of  his 
father’s  estates.  At  Cork  he  attended  the  instructions  of  a  celebrated 
preacher  Thomas  Lee,  and  afterward  the  young  man  made  a  public  pro¬ 
fession  of  his  doctrines.  Also  called  William  Penn,  he  was  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  converts  of  the  Quaker  sect,  besides  being  a  man  of  wealth 
and  family.4  Notwithstanding  his  public  preaching  in  the  streets,  and 
even  his  imprisonment  in  the  Tower  of  London,  Penn  had  obtained  from 
King  Charles  II.,  in  1681,  a  charter  to  establish  a  colony  west  of  the 
Delaware.  To  his  designated  tract  was  given  the  name  of  Pennsylvania.5 
This  concession  was  made  in  payment  of  an  old  debt,  which  had  been 
due  from  the  Crown  to  the  Penn  family.  Over  the  colony  he  was  appoin¬ 
ted  s«le  proprietor,  and  he  was  also  invested  with  the  dignity  of  governor. 
Reserving  the  sovereignty  of  the  Crown  and  its  claim  to  allegiance,  the 


1  See  Hugh  Murray’s  “  United  States 
of  America,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  iv.,  pp.  139 
to  142. 

2  See  John  F.  Watson’s  “Annals  of 
Philadelphia,”  published  in  that  city, 
1830.  One  volume,  8vo. 

3  He  was  a  native  of  Bristol  and  born 
in  1621.  He  was  greatly  distinguished 
in  the  naval  wars  carried  on  against 


the  Dutch,  during  the  Protectorate  of 
Oliver  Cromwell. 

4  Thomas  Clarkson,  has  written 
“  Memoirs  of  the  Public  and  Private 
Life  of  William  Penn.”  London,  1813, 
in  two  volumes,  8vo. 

5  Penn  had  wished  to  call  it  Syl- 
vania,  or  “  Land  of  Forests  ;  ”  but, 
against  his  protests,  the  king  insisted 

\ 


SETTLEMENT  OF  PENNSYLVANIA  DY  WILLIAM  PENN.  63 

proprietor  was  allowed  to  dispose  of  his  lands  in  fee-simple,  to  erect  courts 
of  justice,  to  levy  taxes  with  consent  of  the  freemen  or  their  delegates, 
and  to  raise  forces  for  defence  of  the  province  by  sea  and  land.  An 
appeal  from  the  courts  to  the  king  in  council  was  reserved,  as  also  the 
right  of  the  English  Parliament  to  levy  custom-duties.  The  charter 
granted  to  him  was  copied  from  that  of  Maryland  ;  civil  and  religious 
liberty,  with  other  advantages,  having  been  guaranteed  to  all  who 
desire  to  avail  of  the  laws  and  regulations  made  for  his  cohmy.  The 
first  party  of  emigrants,  chiefly  recruited  from  England  and  Wales, 
sailed  in  1681,  to  begin  the  work  of  settlement  in  Pennsylvania.  For 
these,  Penn  sent  commissioners  to  treat  with  the  native  tribes,  whose 
natural  rights  to  the  soil  he  recognised  and  desired  to  purchase. 
Those  agents  were  furnished  likewise,  with  friendly  and  affectionate 
letters  for  the  Indian  chiefs.  A  large  number  of  settlers — chiefly 
Friends  or  Quakers  from  Dublin  and  places  adjacent  in  Ireland — 
arrived  at  Elsingburg,  near  Salem,  about  this  time.  Among  these, 
John  and  Andrew  Thompson  with  one  Robert  Gane  had  settled  there ; 
others  went  up  to  Burlington  ;  while  several  of  them  settled  at  New¬ 
town  Creek,  where  the  Indians  were  shy  at  first,  but  after  becoming 
better  acquainted,  they  were  very  kind,  friendly  and  beneficial  to  the 
new  settlers.6  In  the  year  1682,  Penn  started  for  America."  He 
brought  with  him  a  colony  of  English — chiefly  Friends — amounting  to 
2,000  persons.  In  the  course  of  the  first  year,  no  fewer  than  twenty- 
three  ships  loaded  with  passengers  arrived ;  and,  in  two  years,  the 
population  amounted  to  7,000,  including  those  settlers  who  were 
already  on  the  ground  when  the  colony  had  been  originally  organized. 

The  present  state  of  Delaware  was  then  known  as  “  the  Territories,” 
and  it  belonged  to  New  York,  but,  it  was  added  to  Penn’s  dominion 
in  1682.  A  few  weeks  after  his  arrival,  Penn  held  a  conference 
with  a  large  assembly  of  the  Indians.  They  met  under  an  elm  tree 
at  Shackamaxon,  in  what  is  now  Kensington,  Philadelphia.  There 
he  formed  with  them  a  treaty  of  friendship.  This  treaty  was  never 
broken,8  so  that  the  kindly  intercourse  between  the  Quakers  and 
the  savages  was  rarely,  if  ever,  disturbed.  That  same  year,  Penn 
founded  on  the  River  Delaware  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  Its  name 
signifies  “  brotherly  love.”  He  summoned  likewise,  a  legislative 
General  Assembly,  elected  by  the  people.  Its  first  session  was  held 
at  Chester.  A  council  of  seventy-two  was  elective,  and  having  a 
third  of  their  number  renewed  each  year,  that  body  was  divided  into 
four  committees,  viz.  : — of  plantation,  of  trade,  of  justice  and  of  educa- 


that  “  Penn  ”  should  be  added  to  that 
denomination. 

6  See  Proud’s  “History  of  Pennsyl¬ 
vania,”  published  at  Philadelphia,  1745, 
in  two  vols.,  8vo.  An  edition  was 
published  in  London,  1793,  in  one  vol., 
8vo.  An  edition  in  two  volumes  was 


issued,  also,  in  1797,  at  Philadel¬ 
phia. 

7  See  Duponceau’s  “  Discourse  on  the 
Early  History  of  Pennsylvania.”  Phila¬ 
delphia,  1821. 

8 See  Proud’s  “History  of  Pennsyl¬ 
vania.” 


64  HUSH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

tion.9  In  conjunction  with  the  proprietor — who  was  allowed  three  votes 
—that  council  formed  the  executive.  The  members  prepared  those  bills 
and  propositions  which  were  submitted  to  the  General  Assembly.  Lands 
were  sold  to  settlers  in  large  and  small  lots,  at  about  five  pence  an  acre, 
and  subject  to  a  small  annual  quit-rent.  Poor  men  were  allowed 
50  acres  at  one  half  penny  per  acre  10  In  December  1682,  Penn 
proceeded  to  Maryland,  to  adjust  with  Lord  Baltimore  the  bounds  of 
their  respective  provinces.  After  a  difficult  negociation,  ultimately 
referred  to  the  Committee  of  Plantation,  it  was  decided,  that  the  40th 
degree  of  latitude  in  its  real  direction  must  be  the  boundary.  This 
decision  removed  Pennsylvania  from  a  sea-board  on  Chesapeake  Bay. 
Having  established  there  a  representative  government,  Penn  framed  a 
code  of  laws,  before  he  returned  to  England  in  1684.  When  James  II. 
soon  afterwards  succeeded  to  the  throne,  having  had  a  great  feeling  of 
friendship  for  Admiral  Penn,  his  son  also  received  the  monarch’s  highest 
esteem  and  favours.  As  a  consequence,  jealousies  and  calumnies  were 
excited  against  Penn.  His  best  and  most  virtuous  acts  of  beneficence — 
exercised  on  behalf  of  those  con  lemned  by  the  courts — were  alleged  to 
have  been  a  traffic  in  pardons  granted  to  the  prisoners.11  Even  was  he 
accused  of  having  been  a  Jesuit  in  disguise,  and  of  holding  intriguing 
correspondence  with  the  Court  of  Rome. 

The  first  emigrants  to  Pennsylvania  were  mostly  Quakers,  including 
some  from  Germany  and  Holland,  but  toleration  was  promised  to  all 
Christians.  This  pledge  does  not  appear  to  have  been  regarded  as 
applying  to  Catholics,  yet  some  arrived,  and  they  were  not  molested. 
They  had  even  a  kindly  recognition  by  the  Philadelphians  ;  for  at  this 
time,  the  hostile  feeling  evinced  in  England  against  members  of  their 
persecuted  creed  had  been  greatly  allayed.  Several  Irish  Catholics 
were  among  the  primitive  Pennsylvanian  arrivals.  Mass  was  cele¬ 
brated  in  Philadelphia,  so  early  as  1 686. 12  Commissioners  had  been 
appointed  by  Penn  to  rule  in  his  absence,  but  discord  between  them 
and  the  General  Assembly  soon  ensued.  This  was  chiefly  owring  to 
charges  of  corruption  and  of  other  misdemeanours  brought  by  the  latter 
against  one  Moore,  a  leading  proprietary  officer.  In  1686,  Penn  in¬ 
structed  his  agents  to  dissolve  the  constitution  he  had  granted,  super¬ 
seding  the  commission  likewise,  and  sending  out  a  deputy  governor 
named  Blackwell,  to  support  his  authority.  This  man,  a  dexterous 
and  an  unscrupulous  politician,  succeeded  in  gaining  over  some  of  the 
General  Assembly  members,  so  as  to  carry  on  an  arbitrary  course  of 
government.13 

After  communicating  his  project  to  Count  de  Frontenac,  Governor 


a  According  to  “Frame  of  the  Govern¬ 
ment  of  Pennsylvania,  1682,  ’  pp.  1  to  3. 

10  According  to  ‘‘Some  Account  of 
the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  in 
America,”  p.  5,  Londo  >,  1681. 

11  See  Thomas  B.  Macaulay’s  H  story 
of  England  from  the  Accession  of  James 


II.”  Vol  i.,  chap  v.,  pp.  502  to  509. 
London,  1849,  et  seq. 

12  See  John  it  G.  Hassard’s  “History 
of  the  United  States  of  America,”  chap, 
xiii.,  p.  96. 

13  See  Proud’s  “History  of  Penn¬ 
sylvania,”  Vol.  i.,  p.  340. 


EXPLORATIONS  ON  THE  MISSISSIPPI. 


65 


of  Canada,  Robert  de  la  Salle  sailed  for  Europe,  filled  with  the  idea  of 
establishing  a  chain  of  posts  extending  from  Canada  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico.  Thus,  he  hope-1  to  bind  the  French  possessions  securely 
together,  and  the  project  was  regarded  as  eminently  deserving  encour¬ 
agement  from  the  home  government.  Having  obtained  the  sanction  of 
Louis  XIV.,  he  fitted  out  an  exploring  expedition,  consisting  of  Father 
Louis  Hennepin,  a  Franciscan,  and  M.  JDugay,  with  six  others,  to 
advance  from  the  Illinois  to  the  head  waters  of  the  Mississippi  River. 
On  the  28th  February  1680,  those  entered  the  latter  and  then  took  a 
northward  course.  Hennepin  went  no  further  in  that  direction  than  to 
Saint  Anthony’s  Falls,  which  name  he  gave  them  in  honour  of  his 
patron,  St.  Anthony  of  Padua.  Thence,  after  a  variety  of  strange  and 
da  ngerous  vicissitudes,  those  voyagers  descended  the  Mississippi,  it  is  said, 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Arkansas.  Some  hare  asserted  that  they  went  farther 
south,  even  to  the  sea.14  According  to  another  statement,15  they  re¬ 
turned  to  Green  Bay,  after  enduring  almost  incredible  fatigues  and 
hardships.  La  Salle  had  obtained  the  title  of  Cavalier  from  the  French 
monarch,  for  the  intelligent  interest  he  took  in  French  affairs,  and  now 
he  was  about  to  adventure  in  person  on  his  new  voyage  of  discovery. 
On  the  2nd  of  February  in  the  year  1682,  after  making  a  tour  of  explo¬ 
ration  down  the  Illinois  River,  La  Salle  entered  the  valley  and  sailed  on 
the  great  River  Mississippi.  His  course  lay  southward.  To  the  “  Father 
of  Waters  ”  he  gave  the  name  of  St.  Louis,  and  to  t  he  country  traversed 
bv  it  that  of  Louisiana.  This  was  intended,  as  well  to  consecrate  the 
whole  territory  to  the  patron  saint  as  to  do  honour'  to  the  King  of  France. 
When  he  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri  River,  he  gave  it  the 
name  of  St.  Philip.  Continuing  down  the  “  St.  Louis,”  on  the  4th  March, 
he  took  possession  of  the  country  of  Akansas,  the  origin  of  the  modern 
name  Arkansas.  Without  unnecessary  delay,  he  proceeded  still  south¬ 
wards,  and  on  the  7th  of  April  succeeding,  he  planted  the  colours  of 
France  near  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  On  the  9th,  he  reached  the  mouth  of 
the  Mississippi,  while  formally  and  solemnly  the  commandant  claimed 
the  territory  for  France.  He  then  began  to  ascend  the  river,  but  owing 
to  sickness,  he  did  not  reach  Quebec  before  the  spring  of  1683.  Soon  after, 
he  returned  to  France,  to  make  arrangements  for  colonizing  Louisiana. 
These  he  had  accomplished  by  July  1684,  for  he  had  received  a  very- 
favourable  reception  from  the  French  court.  lie  obtained  a  company 
of  two  hundred  persons,  including  even  missionaries,  when  his  fleet  of 
four  vessels  left  the  port  of  Rochelle  in  Fiance,  July  24th  1684. 16 


14  Father  Louis  Hennepin  published  his 
adventures  in  a  work  :  “  Description  de 
la  Louisiane  nouvellement  decouvert  au 
sud-ouest  de  la  Nouvelle  France,  avec  la 
Carte  du  Pays,  les  Moeurs  et  la  Maniere 
de  vivre  des  Sauvages.”  Paris,  1685, 
12mo.  A  second  edition  appeared  in 
1688.  It  was  translated  into  Italian, 
and  published  at  Bolpgna,  1686,  12ino. 


It  appeared  in  German  at  Nuremburg, 
1689,  12mo.  An  addition  to  this  work 
was  published  at  Utrecht,  1697,  and  at 
Amsterdam,  1698,  12mo. 

15Thatof  John  W.Monette,in  his  "His¬ 
tory  of  the  Discovery  and  Settlement  of 
the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi,”  Vol.  i. 

16  See  G  eorge  Bancroft’s  *  ‘  H istory  of  th  e 
United  States.”  Vol.  iii.,  chap,  xi.,  p.  168 


CG  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


H  is  brother  La  Salle,  a  Sulpician,  was  one  of  those  missionaries. 
But,  various  dissensions  arose,  between  the  captain  of  th»  ship 
Beaujeu,  and  the  Chevalier  de  la  Salle,  who  had  command  of  the 
entire  expedition.  Obliged  to  return  to  Rochelle,  after  having  sailed 
out  to  sea,  the  adventurers  refitted,  and  left  once  more  on  the  1st  of 
August.  They  reached  St.  Domingo  on  the  27th  of  September,  yet  had 
the  misfortune  to  lose  one  of  their  vessels,  captured  by  two  Spanish 
pirates.  La  Salle  became  indisposed,  but  when  recovered  from  illness, 
the  voyage  was  resumed  on  the  27th  of  November.  They  doubled  Cape 
Antonio,  oft’  the  Florida  coast,  on  the  28th  of  December,  coasting 
towards  the  west.  Failing  to  recognise  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi, 
as  they  passed  it,  their  company  landed  at  the  Bay  of  Matagorda.  La 
Salle  had  already  perceived  the  mistake,  but  he  could  not  persuade 
Beaujeu  to  alter  his  course.  The  subsequent  history  of  the  Chevalier  la 
Salle  is  full  of  melancholy  interest.  While  attempting  a  landing  there, 
one  of  his  three  remaining  vessels  was  lost,  with  nearly  all  her  cargo. 
The  Indians  also  attacked  the  French  when  they  disembarked.  There 
La  Salle  hastily  constructed  a  fort,  in  which  he  left  a  small  garrison. 
He  also  erected  another  fort,  which  he  called  Fort  St.  Louis,  giving  the 
command  of  it  to  an  officer  named  J  out  el  17  Under  an  erroneous  im¬ 
pression  that  the  Mississippi  discharged  its  waters  into  the  Bay  of 
Matagorda,  be  coasted  along  its  shores  in  two  small  boats.  During  his 
absence,  the  last  remaining  vessel  ran  aground  and  sank. 

Seeing  all  his  projects  for  an  extension  of  French  colonization 
ruined  by  the  loss  of  his  ship,  La  Salle  called  his  companions  together, 
and  urged  the  necessity  for  his  attempting  a  journey  to  Canada  by 
land.  Leaving  the  forts  in  possession  of  the  main  body,  he  selected 
twenty  companions  for  his  adventurous  course  to  the  Illinois  River. 
He  set  out  from  Fort  St.  Louis,  on  the  12th  of  January,  1687, 18 
His  brother,  his  two  nephews,  Sieur  Joutel,  and  Father  Anas- 
tasius  left  with  him.  Small  as  the  company  was,  a  feud  existed 
among  them,  which  terminated  in  the  murder  of  Moranger,  La  Salle’s 
nephew ;  and  this  inhuman  deed  was  followed  up  by  the  villains  who 
executed  it,  in  shooting  the  cavalier  himself  through  the  head,  on  the 
19th  of  March.  The  brave  and  pious  La  Salle  had  barely  time  to  make 
a  part  of  his  confession  to  Father  Anastasius,  wTho  gave  him  absolution, 
when  he  expired.  The  body  was  buried  in  the  wilderness,  and  a  cross 
was  erected  over  his  grave.19 

The  assassins  and  their  accomplices  soon  quarrelled  among  them¬ 
selves  ;  two  fell  victims  to  violence,  while  the  seven,  not  implicated  in 
these  shocking  outrages,  pursued  their  trackless  journey,  enduring  all 
manner  of  dangers  and  privations.  On  the  20th  of  July,  they  ap- 


17  He  has  left  an  interesting  work, 
embellished  with  a  curious  map,  and 
intituled:  “Journal  historique  du 
dernier  Voyage  quo  feu  M.  de  la 
Salle  fit  dans  le  Golfe  du  Mexique 
pour  trouver  l’Emboucht»re  et  le 


Cours  de  la  Riviere  du  Missicipi,” 
Paris,  1723,  12mo. 

18  See  George  Bancroft’s  “History 
of  the  United  States.”  Vol.  iii., 
chap  xx.,  p.  172. 

19  His  tragic  history  is  contained 


REVOCATION  Or  COLONIAL  CHARTERS. 


67 


proached  the  Arkansas  River,  and  here  they  met  two  oi  ck'ir  country¬ 
men  among  the  Indians  of  that  territory.  After  a  short  delay,  theic 
small  company  ascended  the  Mississippi,  and  entered  the  mouth  of 
the  Illinois  on  the  3rd  of  September.  They  passed  that  winter 
near  Lake  Peoria,  and  on  the  opening  of  spring  continued 
their  journey  to  Quebec.  There  most  of  them  took  shipping 
for  France  in  1688.  Those  who  had  been  left  at  the  Bay  of  Mata¬ 
gorda  were  taken  prisoners  by  the  Spaniards.  Such  were  the  results  of 
Chevalier  la  Salle’s  ill-fated  expedition,  which  in  the  beginning  had 
excited  the  most  sanguine  expectations. 

The  French  laid  claim  to  and  actually  possessed  vast  territories  in 
the  west,  with  those  of  Canada  in  the  north.20  This  claim  embraced  an 
immense  tract  of  country,  called  Louisiana,  extending  from  Hudson’s 
Bay  on  the  north,  and  from  the  shores  of  the  St.  Lawrence  River  to  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico  on  the  south. 

In  1683.  the  Duke  of  New  York — it  is  stated  through  compulsion21 
— had  allowed  the  people  of  New  York  to  meet  in  Assembly,  and  to 
enact  a  code  of  fundamental  laws,  known  as  the  Charter  of  Liberties. 
This  gave  to  the  people  a  right  to  vote,  to  tax  and  to  rule  themselves, 
as  also  to  practise  any  Christian  form  of  religion  without  molestation. 
About  this  time,  the  first  legislative  Assembly  of  New  York  was 
convened  During  the  latter  part  of  his  reign,  however,  Charles  II. 
desired  to  destroy  American  Colonial  liberty,  by  taking  away  the 
charters  already  granted,  and  by  converting  the  colonies  into  Crown 
provinces.  When  his  brother  James  II  came  to  the  throne  in  1685, 
he  resolved  to  prosecute  the  same  object,  and  he  required  Sir  Edmond 
Andros  to  execute  such  a  project.  The  New  England  Colonies  were 
now  required  to  surrender  their  charters.  Towards  the  end  of  1686, 21 
Andros  arrived  at  Bostou  with  the  title  of  Governor  General  of  New 
England.  Moreover,  New  York  and  the  Jerseys  were  added  to  his 
jurisdiction.  The  first  important  act  of  his  administration  proclaimed 
the  Royal  Declaration  of  Indulgence,  which  granted  toleration  to 
Catholics,  Episcopalians,  Baptists,  Quakers,  and  all  other  Protestant 
sects.  This  decree,  however,  greatly  excited  the  resentment  of  the 
Puritans.  Their  indignation  was  further  increased,  when  all  the  New 
England  Colonies  were  obliged  to  give  up  their  charters.  However, 
Connecticut  refused  this  demand,  and  accordingly,  the  Governor- 
General  marched  co  Hartford,  in  November  1687,  with  sixty  soldiers. 
As  the  Assembly  was  then  sitting,  he  entered  their  hall  in  the  evening 
and  demanded  cheir  charter.  This  document  was  produced  and  laid  on 
the  table.  When  Andros  was  about  to  take  it,  the  lights  were  suddenly 
put  out,  and  the  document  disappeared.  By  preconcerted  action,  it  had 


in  Charlevoix’s  “  Histoire  de  la  Nou- 
velle  France.” 

29  See  Burke’s  “  Account  of  the 
European  Settlements  in  America, 
with  a  History  of  the  Discovery  of 


that  part  of  the  World,”  in  two 
volumes,  published  in  1765. 

21  See  George  Bancroft’s  “History 
of  the  United  States.”  Vol.  ii.,  chap, 
xvii.,  pp.  413,  414. 


68 


IRISII-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


been  taken  away,  and  then  hidden  in  a  hollow  tree.  This  was  afterwards 
known  as  the  Charter  oak.  The  Governor-General  never  found  the 
•document.22  Andros  now  became  exceedingly  unpopular.  He  was  a  bad 
ruler,  and  he  issued  the  most  tyrannical  orders.  He  imposed  oppressive 
taxes,  and  he  arbitrarily  exceeded  his  authority,  by  constantly  interfer¬ 
ing  with  private  rights. 

Notwithstanding  his  liberal  concessions  while  Duke  of  York,  when 
James  II.  l>ecame  king,  he  exercised  the  same  despotic  authority  in  New 
York  as  he  had  practised  in  New  England.  The  people  of  this  latter 
province  were  ready  to  rebel  against  his  arbitrary  rule.  When  the  welcome 
news  arrived,  that  he  had  been  dethroned  in  England,  and  that  William 
and  Mary  had  succeeded,  the  people  of  Boston  immediately  imprisoned 
Andros  with  about  fifty  of  his  partisans.  They  were  afterwards  sent  to 
England  for  trial,  but  the  Government  came  to  no  decision  in  the  case. 
Afterwards,  and  by  their  own  authority,  the  colonies  resumed  their 
•charters.  King  William  was  too  much  engaged  at  home,  to  pay  any 
Great  attention  to  American  affairs,  and  the  colonists  were  left  in  a 
measure  to  manage  on  their  own  behalf.  About  this  time,  Nicholson 
was  Lieutenant-Governor  of  New  York,  and  a  deputy  of  Andros.  How¬ 
ever,  when  James  was  dethroned,  a  rich  German  citizen  named  Jacob 
Leisler  and  a  captain  of  militia  riotously  put  himself  at  the  head  of  a 
rabble,  and  he  seized  upon  the  fort  of  New  York.  He  also  took 
possession  of  the  public  money,  and  constituted  himself  a  military 
dictator,  proclaiming  that  what  he  did  was  for  the  preservation  of  the 
Protestant  religion.  Leisler  had  commenced  the  revolt  by  refusing  to 
pay  his  taxes,  and  chiefly  on  the  ground  that  the  collector  was  a  Catholic. 
At  this  time,  there  were  three  Jesuit  priests  in  New  York,  and  they  had 
established  a  Latin  School  for  the  teaching  of  youth.  The  prejudices  of 
the  Protestants  were  then  aroused,  and  the  rumour  of  Popish  plots  for 
their  destruction  was  put  into  circulation.  In  1689,  Leisler  led  an 
expedition  against  Albany,  to  compel  the  northern  settlements  to 
recognise  his  authority,  as  Nicholson  had  fled  to  England.  He  also 
took  a  vigorous  part  in  opposition  to  the  French  and  Indians.  How¬ 
ever,  this  insubordination  was  soon  overruled  by  the  Home  Government, 
and  William  III.  sent  over  Colonel  Henrv  Slough  ter  as  Governor  of 
New  York.  He  arrived  there  in  March,  1691.  Immediately,  Leisler 
was  arrested,  together  with  his  son-in-law  and  Secretary  Milbourne. 
They  were  afterwards  tried  for  high  treason,  found  guilty,  and  hanged.23 

This  very  same  year,  the  New  York  Assembly  repealed  the  charter  of 
Liberties,  and  enacted  a  Bill  of  Bights,  which  gave  complete  toleration 
for  all  Protestant  sects,  but  which  excluded  Catholics  from  its  scope. 
When  the  Revolution  took  place  in  1688,  the  order  of  things  was  again 
reversed  in  Maryland.  The  Puritan  faction  now  spread  false  and 
scandalous  reports,  that  the  Catholics  were  engaged  in  a  plot  to  massacre 

22  See  Theodore  Dwight,  jun.,  23  See  George  Bancroft’s  “History 
“History  of  Connecticut,”  New  York,  of  the  United  States.”  Yol.  iii.,  chap. 
i8mo.  xix.  pp.  50  to  56. 


COMMOTIONS  IN  MARYLAND.  69 

all  the  Protestant  colonists.  As  a  result,  the  minds  of  the  latter  were 
highly  excited.  A  Puritan  named  Code  organized  an  Association  in 
Arms  for  the  defence  of  the  Protestant  religion.  He  also  raised  an 
insurrection  throughout  Maryland,  in  1689.  His  adherents  marched 
upon  St.  Mary's  and  captured  the  Fort  of  St.  Inigoe  or  St.  Ignatius. 
A  convention  was  then  called  together,  and  its  delegates  declared  the 
authority  of  Lord  Baltimore  to  be  forfeited.  In  the  year  1691,  the  grant 
to  Lord  Baltimore  was  revoked  by  King  William  III-,  who  then  erected 
Maryland  into  a  royal  province.  The  capital  was  removed  from  St.  INI  ary’s, 
and  thenceforth  it  was  fixed  at  Annapolis.  The  establish ®d  religion  of 
the  colony  was  declared  to  be  that  agreeing  with  the  Church  of  England. 
The  Catholics  were  disfranchised  likewise,  anti  thus  deprived  of  those 
privileges,  which  the  early  founders  had  been  willing  to  share  with  all 
their  other  fellow-citizens. 

It  is  quite  surprising,  how  a  belief  in  witchcraft  and  sorcery  pre¬ 
vailed— especially  in  New  England — at  this  period.  In  1688,  the 
fear  of  witches  created  another  great  popular  excitement  in  Boston, 
where  a  panic  began  in  the  family  of  a  citizen  named  John  Goodwin, 
whose  children  pretended  that  they  had  been  bewitched  by  an  old 
Irishwoman.  The  Reverend  Dr.  Cotton  Mather 24  and  other 
ministers  were  charged  with  the  investigation  of  this  case.  The  old 
woman  was  found  to  be  a  Roman  Catholic,  who  spoke  Irish,  but  who 
could  not  say  the  Lord’s  prayer,  except  in  Latin.  She  was  adjudged 
to  be  a  witch,  and  accordingly  she  was  sentenced  to  be  hanged. 

Long  before  the  time  of  Columbus,  Keltic  blood,  from  the  Anglo- 
Briton  and  Norman  Stock,  had  completely  dominated  in  England  and 
in  Scotland.  In  Ireland  also,  the  aboriginal  tribes  were  still  less 
mixed  with  Teutonic  blood.  The  early  colonists  with  Keltic  elements 
of  race,  and  afterwards  largely  increased  from  Ireland,  are  unmis¬ 
takably  the  source  of  American  heroism,  character  and  prosperity,  in 
a  very  marked  degree.  Such  resuRs  are  within  the  historian’s  ken  and 
the  statistician’s  Census  of  our  own  days,  and  fail  not  the  researches  of 
ethnologists,  to  establish  their  dominance  of  numbers  and  of  power,  in 
a  population  of  over  seventy  millions.  Previous  to  the  Revolution, 
no  very  complete  memorial  has  been  transmitted  to  us,  regarding 
particulars  of  those  emigrations  which  took  place  from  Europe  to 
America.  However,  from  accessible  records,  they  seem  to  have  been 
amazingly  copious.25  So  early  as  1690,  one  Doherty,  an  Irish  trader 
from  Virginia,  had  visited  the  Cherokees.  Afterwards,  and  for  a 
number  of  years,  he  lived  among  them.2'3  During  the  reign  of  William 
III.  and  of  Queen  Mary,  the  Woollen  trade  and  manufactures  of 


24  He  was  the  son  of  Increase 
Mather,  while  he  wrote  and  preached 
much.  One  of  his  works  is  intituled  : 
“The  Wonders  of  the  Invisible  World  • 
being  an  Account  of  the  Trials  of 
several  Witches  lately  executed  in 
New  England,  and  of  several  remark¬ 


able  Curiosities  therein  occurring.” 
This  curious  book  was  published  in 
London  in  1693,  4to. 

25  See  Rev.  J  A.  Spencer’s  “  His¬ 
tory  of  the  United  States.”  Vol.  i. 

26  See  Ramsey’s  “  Annals  of  Ten- 
nesee.” 


70 


IR1SH-AJ1ERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Ireland  being  greatly  discouraged,  several  families  emigrated.  While 
many  of  the  Catholics  removed  to  Fi  ance  and  Spain,  the  Northern 
Protestants  sought  Germany  ;27  moreover,  it  has  been  estimated, 
that  3,000  malesjleft  Ulster  yearly  for  the  American  colonies,  soon 
after  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century.  About  1660,  Robert 
and  Magdalen  Pollock,  together  with  their  six  sons  and  two  daughters, 
set  sail  from  the  County  of  Donegal,  Ireland,  for  America,  and  settled 
in  the  then  colony  of  Lord  Baltimore  within  Somerset  County,  Mary¬ 
land,  at  a  place  now  known  as  Dane’s  Quarter.  In  America,  the 
name  was  contrasted  to  Polk.28  All  the  sons  married  and  became  the 
progenitors  of  numerous  families.  The  Carrolls  who  founded  Carroll- 
town,  in  Maryland,  emigrated  from  Ireland  before  1689, 29  and  several 
names  of  those,  who  settled  in  this  colony  at  an  early  date,  indicate  the 
country  of  their  origin. 

Meantime,  the  French  were  industriously  engaged  in  spreading  their 
settlements  along  the  southern  shores  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  especially 
within  the  bounds  of  the  present  State  of  Maine.  This  was  then 
regarded  as  a  sort  of  neutral  piXi&  undefined  territory;  but,  equally 
coveted  by  the  English  and  French.  Baron  Vincent  de  Castine  built  a 
fort  at  Panawiske,  an  old  Indian  town  on  the  Penobscot,  and  he 
married  the  daughter  of  the  Sagamore  Modockewando.  Thus,  he  had 
acquired  great  influence  among  the  Indians.  Towards  the  year  1681, 
Father  Louis  Pierre  Thury  a  secular  priest,  and  connected  with  the 
Seminary  of  Quebec,  established  a  mission  there  among  the  Indians. 
With  him  was  associated  Father  Henri  Honore  Deschambeault,  from 
1696  to  1699.  Daring  this  period  also,  French  missions  had  been 
successfully  established  in  various  stations  along  the  Northern  Lakes 
and  in  the  Western  wilds.39 


27  See  Arthur  Dobbs,  “  An  Essay  on 
the  Trade  and  Improvements  of  Ire¬ 
land,”  Part  i.,  p.  6.  Dublin,  1729,  8vo. 

28  From  one  of  the  sons  were  de¬ 
scended  President  James  K.  Polk, 
General  Thomas  Polk,  of  Mecklen¬ 
burg  fame,  Bishop  and  Lieutenant- 
General  Leonidas  Polk,  and  others. 
From  another  son,  descended  Gov¬ 
ernor  Charles  Polk,  of  Deleware,  and 
from  another,  Governor  Trusten  Polk, 
of  Missouri.  From  Robert  the  fifth 
son  of  Robert  and  Magdalen,  is  de¬ 
scended  the  artist.  This  Robert — 
of  Robert  and  Magdalen — married  a 
Miss  Gisilette,  and  had  a  son  Robert, 
who  married  Miss  Peale,  sister  of 
Charles  Peale,  the  founder  of  Penle's 
Museum.  This  latter  Robert,  father 
of  Charles  Peale  Polk,  was  a  dis¬ 
tinguished  naval  officer  in  the  Frenctx 
war,  and  was  mortally  wounded  on 
board  his  ship  by  a  splinter  during  a 


desperate  engagement.  — See  Potter's 
American  Monthly,  May,  1876. 

29  Daniel  Carroll,  a  native  of  Litta- 
mourtia,  in  Ireland,  was  a  govern¬ 
ment  clerk  in  England  during  the  reign 
of  James  II.,  and  on  emigrating  to 
America,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  seven¬ 
teenth  century,  he  settled  in  Mary¬ 
land,  at  a  place  afterwards  called 
from  his  family  name  Carrollton. 
By  Lord  Baltimore  he  was  appointed 
as  agent  to  receive  the  rents  of  that 
proprietor,  while  he  was  constituted 
judge  and  registrar  of  the  land  office. 
His  son  Daniel  was  born  there  in 
1702,  as  also  his  still  more  celebrated 
grandson  Charles  Carroll  of  Carroll¬ 
ton,  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde¬ 
pendence.  See  N.  Dwight’s  “  Lives 
of  the  Signers  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,”  Maryland,  p.  262. 
Published  at  New  York,  1851,  Svo, 

30  For  a  very  complete  account  of 


IRISH  AND  FRENCH  COLONIZATION. 


71 


While  these  events  wore  occurring,  Penn  had  been  involved  in 
political  troubles  after  his  return  to  England.31  His  province  was  taken 
from  him,  when  the  Revolution  of  16S8  had  succeeded.  Four  different 
times  was  he  arraigned  before  the  judges,  and  charged  by  his  enemies 
with  being  engaged  in  political  and  religious  intrigues.  Nevertheless,  he 
justified  himself  in  such  a  manner  as  to  escape  sentence.  One  named 
Fuller  had  preferred  a  false  accusation  against  him,  and  for  three  years 
—  so  violent  were  party  passions — he  deemed  it  necessary  to  remain  in 
concealment.  However,  in  1693  Penn  demanded  an  enquiry  into  his 
conduct,  when,  before  the  King  and  his  council,  being  examined,  lie  was 
honourably  acquitted.32  Meantime,  his  jurisdiction  and  privileges 
beyond  the  Atlantic  had  been  iniquitously  sequestrated.  Afterwards, 
Pennsylvania  was  ruled  by  Benjamin  Fletcher,  the  Royal  Governor  of 
New  York,  for  two  years.  In  April  1693,  he  assumed  this  authority, 
when  soon  commenced  altercations  between  himself  and  the  Assembly. 
The  members  of  this  latter  insisted  on  the  validity  of  those  laws 
founded  on  letters-patent,  which  the  new  governor  declared  to  be 
abrogated.  The  Assembly  also  resisted  the  demands  made  for  money, 
and  arrogated  to  themselves  the  privilege  of  originating  bills.  About 
this  time,  dissensions  prevailed  among  the  Quakers  themselves,  and 
disturbances  took  place.33  The  rights  of  the  proprietor  were  at  length 
restored,  in  1696.  Having  lost  his  first  wife,  Penn  married  again.  He 
then  made  a  second  visit  to  America,  with  his  family,  resolving  to 
tettle  there  in  1699.  At  the  demand  of  the  people,  who  wished  for 
greater  political  privileges,  he  granted  a  new  constitution.  Meantime, 
the  English  minister  had  introduced  a  bill  to  the  House  of  Lords  which 
was  designed  to  annul  the  charter  of  Penn,  and  to  vest  the  local  govern¬ 
ments  of  America  in  royal  patronage  and  authority.  After  a  stay  of 
two  years,  Penn  felt  himself  obliged  to  leave  in  1701  for  England, 
where  he  hoped  to  counteract  the  injustice  sought  to  be  perpetrated. 
Notwithstanding  some  favours  he  received  from  Queen  Anne,  the 
extraordinary  expenses  he  had  incurred,  in  the  enterprise  of  establish¬ 
ing  his  colony  and  of  protecting  his  rights,  overwhelmed  him  with  debt, 
during  the  closing  years  of  his  life.34  James  Logan  of  Lurgan  in 


these  missions,  the  reader  may  be 
referred  to  the  learned  and  research¬ 
ful  work  of  John  Gilmarv  Shea,  “  The 
Catholic  Church  in  Colonial  Days,” 
Book  iii.  “  The  Catholic  Church  in 
French  Territory,”  chap.  i.  to  v.,  pp. 
216  to  343. 

31  Tbo  character  of  William  Penn  is 
best  revealed  in  his  collected  works — 
comprising  a  great  number  of  small 
tracts — and  which  have  been  published 
in  folio,  A.D.  1726,  preceded  by  a  life 
of  the  author.  His  writings — under 
the  title  of  Choice  Works — have  been 
reproduced  in  London,  a.d.  1782,  in 
four  volumes. 


32  See  Rev.  Dr.  Jeremy  Belknap’s 
“  Biographies  of  the  Early  Disco¬ 
verers,”  Vol.  ii. ,  William  Penn. 

33  See  “  Account  of  great  Divisions 
among  the  Quakers  of  Pennsylvania, 
1692,  1693,”  Trials  of  Peter  Ross, 
George  Keith,  &e.  London,  1693. 

34  He  died  in  England,  the  30th  of 
July,  1718,  aged  seventy-four.  He 
was  buried  at  Jordan,  Buckingham¬ 
shire.  See  J.  Marsillac’s  “  Vie  de 
Guillaume  Penn,”  Paris,  1791,  two 
volumes,  8vo.  This  biography  was 
translated  into  German,  by  J.  Fried¬ 
rich,  and  published  at  Strasburg, 
1793,  in  8vo. 


72 


IRISH  -  AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Ireland,  and  who  had  accompanied  William  Penn  to  Pennsylvania  in 
1699,  became  governor  of  that  colony  for  two  vears  after  the  death  of 
Penn.35  He  enriched  its  infant  capital  of  Philadelphia,  by  bequeathing 
to  it  his  own  fine  library;36  while  he  also  left  an  honoured  name  to 
posterity,  owing  to  his  very  tolerant  rule  over  Irish  Catholic  immigrants, 
and  because  of  his  benificent  acts  when  placed  in  authority. 

For  a  long  period  after  the  immigration  of  European  colonists  and 
adventurers  had  set  in,  under  the  different  claims  of  discovery  and 
conquest,  North  America  was  held  by  a  species  of  tenancy  in  common 
between  England,  France  and  Spain.  In  a  country  of  such  vast 
extent,  where  the  population  was  sparse,  where  localities  were  unex¬ 
plored,  and  where,  from  the  very  nature  of  things,  the  extent  of  the 
boundaries  claimed  by  those  different  powers  could  not  be  ascertained 
with  anything  like  geographical  precision,  misunderstandings,  jealousies 
and  collisions  between  them  became  unavoidable.  Nor  could  diplomacy 
settle  these  differences  in  all  cases.  Were  the  colonists  allowed  to  form 
independent  governments  of  their  own,  it  is  probable,  an  appeal  to 
arms  might  often  have  been  avoided  ;  however,  complications  among  the 
great  powers  of  Europe,  to  whom  they  respectively  owed  fealty,  were  only 
aggravated  by  disturbances  arising  among  their  colonial  subjects,  and 
which  were  solved  by  cabinets,  ignorant  of  the  real  causes  and  situa¬ 
tion,  or  of  the  remedies  requisite  to  arrive  at  a  peaceful  solution. 
Immediate  exploration  of  the  Lower  Mississippi  was  interrupted, 
through  a  war  carried  on  by  the  Iroquois  Indians  and  the  British 
colonies  against  the  province  of  Canada,  from  1689  to  1696. 

However,  fully  alive  to  the  advantages  of  further  colonization  in 
the  New  World,  the  French  Government  again  fitted  out  two  shins, 
under  the  command  of  the  brave  and  able  commandant  Lemoine 
D’Iberville  and  the  Marquis  Chateaumorand.3"  These  sailed  from 
Rochefort,  on  the  17th  of  October  1698.  They  reached  San  Domingo 
on  the  11th  of  December  following,  sighted  the  coast  of  Florida  on  the 
12th  of  January  1699,  and  after  some  explorations  along  the  southern 
bounds  of  North  America,  D’Iberville  entered  the  mouth  of  the  gigantic 
Mississippi,  on  the  2nd  of  March.  Chateaumorand  followed  him  at  a 
distance,  but  he  was  despatched  to  St.  Domingo  with  news  of  the  recent 
explorations.  Lemoine  D’Iberville  ascended  the  river,  so  far  as  the 
present  site  o:  Donaldsonville,  in  the  state  of  Louisiana.  There  build¬ 
ing  a  fort  in  the  Bay  of  Biloxi,  and  leaving  it  in  command  of  his  brother 
Lemoine  de  Bienville,  then  Lein  me  D’Iberville  returned  to  France.38 


35  Madame  Dtbora  Logan  published 
the  correspondence  of  William  Pent 
with  James  Logan,  to  which  she  has 
added  notes. 

36  For  a  view  of  the  old  Loganiar 
Library,  1745-50,  and  the  history  o' 
its  foundation,  the  reader  is  referrea 
to  “  Public  Libraries  in  the  United 
States  of  America,  their  History, 
Condition  and  Management,”  Part  i., 


pp.  5  to  9.  Washington,  Government 
Printing  Office,  !«.,  .5,  8vo.  Special 
Report,  Department  of  the  Interior, 
Bureau  of  Education. 

37  For  an  account  of  this  expedition, 
the  reader  is  referred  to  Le  Pere 
Charlevoix’s  “  Histoire  de  la  Nou- 
velle-France.” 

38  See  an  account  of  this  ce'ebrated 
man,  who  was  bom  at  Montreal, 


EXPLORATIONS  ON  THE  MISSISSIPPI.  To 

An  English  ship  entered  the  Mississippi  soon  after  these  events,  but 
was  met  by  Bienville  seventy-live  miles  from  the  sea  ;  this  afforded 
sufficient  proof  of  the  prior  right  of  France  to  the  discovery.  Not  long 
afterwards,  one  Tonti  and  twenty  Canadians,  who  had  been  stationed 
in  the  Illinois,  descended  the  great  river.  To  their  intense  and  mutual 
rejoicing,  greetings  and  congratulations  took  plat:e  between  them  and 
their  fellow-countrymen,  who  had  entered  the  Mississippi  through  the 
waters  of  the  Atlantic. 

The  discovery  of  the  Mississippi  by  the  Canadian  French  gave  France 
a  conventional  claim  to  navigate  the  great  river  and  its  principal  tribu¬ 
taries,  as  also  to  occupy  and  settle  in  the  country  traversed  by  them.  Then 
France  was  in  possession  of  the  Canadas,  and  she  claimed  the  country 
bordering  on  the  Mississippi  southwardly:  that  region  having  been 
explored  by  persons  who  were  her  subjects,  and  having  been  partially 
settled  under  her  auspices,  she  commenced  by  endeavouring  to  connect 
her  Canadian  with  her  southern  possessions.  To  do  this,  a  chain  of 
defences  had  to  be  established  ;  and  this,  under  the  superintendence  of 
her  civil  and  military  engineer’s,  was  effected  through  means  of  military 
posts.  These  extended  along  the  lakes,  while  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi 
livers  were  regarded  as  important  natural  lines  for  communication  and 
supply. 

While  the  march  of  exploration  continued,  Catholic  colonists 
were  a>'>ong  the  first  to  land,  to  erect  the  standard  of  the  cross,  and  to 
select  from  the  Church  calendar  the  names  for  districts,  towns  and 
rivers.  Thus  have  we  the  river  of  the  Holy  Cross,  the  river  of  St. 
Mary,  the  rapids  of  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  the  St.  Lawrence  River,  the 
Sacramento  and  Trinity  Rivers,  Corpus  Christi,  Santa  Fe,  St.  Louis. 
St.  Joseph,  St.  Augustine,  San  Francisco,  San  Antonio,  with  many 
similar  Catholic  denominations.  The  French  and  Spanish  missionaries 
were  active  in  extending  the  triumph  of  the  Gospel,  from  Canada  to 
Florida,  and  from  the  eastern  and  southern  coasts  to  those  of  distant 
California.  Dominicans,  Jesuits  and  Franciscans  laboured  in  establish¬ 
ing  missions  among  the  various  Indian  tribes  ;  schools  were  even  opened 
for  their  instruction,  where  they  were  taught  to  read  and  write,39  while 
their  several  native  languages  were  acquired  by  the  European  priests, 
and  specially  with  a  view  to  impart  a  knowledge  of  the  great  truths  of 
Christianity  to  those  children  of  the  forests  and  of  the  prairies. 

Again,  are  we  obliged  to  notice  a  superstition  of  this  period,  and 
which  was  alike  disgraceful  to  civilization  and  to  religious  feeling. 


Canada,  1642 — where  his  lather,  a 
French-Norman  gentleman  Charles 
Lemoine  de  Longueil,  had  settled  in 
1640 — and  who  died  at  Havana  on 
board  his  ship  Le  Juste,  July  9th, 
1706,  in  Leon  Guerin’s  work,  “  Les 
Marins  illustres  de  la  Fiance,  et  Les 
Navigateurs  Francais,”  two  volumes, 
Roy.  8vo.  Paris. 


39  Documents  among  the  Spanish 
archives  prove  this  assertion.  See 
John  Gilmary  Shea’s  article,  “The 
Catholic  Church  in  American  His¬ 
tory,”  American  Quarterly  Review, 
Voi.  i.,  No.  1.,  pp.  149,  150,  January, 
1876.  Philadelphia,  Hardy  and 
Maliony,  publishers,  Royal  8%*o. 


BUS . 


71  IRISII-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

The  Revel.  Mr.  Parzis  of  Salem  village,  now  Danvers,  had  a  daughter 
and  a  niece,  who  accused  two  friendless  old  women  and  a  squaw  named 
Tituba,  with  having  bewitched  them.  The  three  accused  persons  were 
accordingly  sent  to  prison.  This  mania  broke  out  in  the  latter  end  of 
109 1.40  On  the  mere  word  of  children,  or  through  the  malicious  accu¬ 
sations  of  enemies,  a  number  of  women  and  a  few  men  were  thrown  into 
jail,  accused  of  being  witches  and  wizards.  Even  the  Governor  of  Mas¬ 
sachusetts  Sir  William  Phipps  shared  in  this  delusion.41  A  town  com¬ 
mittee  was  then  formed  to  search  for  witches,  while  a  special  court  was 
organized  at  Salem  to  try  the  accused.  Some  of  the  witnesses  swore,  that 
they  had  been  thrown  into  spasms,  by  glances  from  the  evil  eyes  of  the 
witches  and  wizards ;  also,  that,  they  had  been  tormented  by  spectres  and 
by  strange  visions.  Meantime,  Cotton  Mather  continued  his  frantic 
denunciations  on  this  subject  from  the  pulpit.  Under  the  influence  of 
foar  or  frenzy,  some  of  the  accused  tried  to  save  their  lives  by  stating 
they  had  meetings  with  the  devil,  and  even  some  gave  the  names  of 
neighbours  they  pretended  to  have  seen  at  those  interviews.  Some 
pretended  they  had  ridden  through  the  air  on  broomsticks.  In  a  single 
year,  one  hundred  and  fifty  persons  were  in  prison,  and  charged  solely 
with  witchcraft,  while  twenty  persons  had  been  executed  for  that 
offence,  and  eight  more  were  under  sentence  of  death.  Many  who  were 
suspected  and  accused  fled  away  to  distant  parts  of  the  country. 
This  delusion  and  reign  of  terror  at  length  disappeared.  Some  of  the 
judges  and  ministers — among  these  the  Rev.  Mr.  Parzis — acknow¬ 
ledged  the  erroneous  notions  under  which  they  had  acted,  and  those 
prisoners  in  confinement  were  accordingly  released.42  The  Governor 
proclaimed  a  general  pardon,  for  all  persons  who  had  been  prosecutors, 
lest  public  dissensions  might  arise  from  retributive  proceedings  against 
the  accusers  and  their  witnesses.  Afterwards,  it  was  found  impossible 
to  revive  prosecutions  that  had  excited  such  painful  remembrances.43 

For  some  time,  mutual  jealousies  had  estranged  the  French  and 
English  colonists  in  America.  Aggressions  and  reprisals  were  constantly 
recurring,  especially  in  the  northern  provinces,  where  both  parties  had 
engaged  Indian  allies  for  their  hostile  purposes.  Deplorable  massacres 
were  perpetrated,  while  many  settlements  were  ravaged  and  destroyed.44 
This  led  to  a  war,  when  King  William  ascended  the  throne.  The 
French  Governor  of  New  France  Count  Frontenac  led  parties  of  French 
against  the  colonists,  who  received  very  little  support  from  England 


" J  Some  or  the  most  extraordinary 
proceedings  ever  recorded  afterwards 
took  place,  in  which  fear,  superstition, 
credulity  and  vindictiveness  were 
mingled.  See  Daniel  Neal  s  “  History 
cf  New  England,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  xii., 
pp.  124  to  170. 

4- See  Mather’s  “  Life  of  Sir  William 
Phipps.” 

42  These  extraordinarv  delusions 


are  set  forth,  and  in  a  more  detailed 
manner,  in  George  Bancroft’s  “  His¬ 
tory  of  the  United  States,  from  the 
Discovery  of  the  American  Continent,” 
Vol.  iii. ,  chap,  xix.,  pp.  34  to  99. 

43  See  James  Grahame’s  “  History 
of  North  America,”  Book  ii.,  chap, 
v. 

44  See  Daniel  Neal’s  “History  of 
New  England,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap.  x. 


WAP.  PET \V KEN  FRANCE  AND  ENGLAND 


(  0 


during  this  struggle.  However,  Massachusetts,  Plymouth,  Connecticut 
and  New  York  had  organized  an  expedition,  which  was  placed  under 
the  command  of  Fitz-John  Winthrop,  son  to  the  Governor  of  Connecticut. 
Moreover,  Massachusetts  had  fitted  out  a  fleet,  which  was  commanded 
by  Sir  William  Phipps.  The  land  expedition  was  led  by  Schuyler  with 
a  party  of  Mohawks  to  attack  Montreal,  but  this  attempt  was  frustrated 
by  Frontenac,  then  seventy-four  years  of  age.  He  led  an  army  against 
the  attacking  party,  and  it  was  obliged  to  retreat  in  1696. 45  Meantime, 
Sir  William  Phipps  ravaged  the  coasts  of  Acadia  and  other  French 
settlements.  On  the  25th  of  May  1690,  Phipps  attacked  Port  Royal, 
which  surrendered  to  him,46  it  being  in  no  capacity  to  stand  a  siege. 
With  additional  vessels — numbering  in  all  between  thirty  and  forty — and 
about  two  thousand  men,  he  then  sailed  up  the  St.  Lawrence  to  surprise 
Quebec.  He  did  not  arrive  there  until  October  5th,  and  it  was  then  too 
late  in  the  season.  Moreover,  Frontenac  had  reached  Quebec  before 
him,  and  that  English  attempt  proved  to  be  a  complete  failure.  The 
vessels  were  obliged  to  set  sail  again  for  Boston  ;  but  stormy  weather 
came  on,  and  the  fleet  was  scattered,  when  some  of  the  ships  were 
wrecked  or  lost,  while  others  were  blown  off  to  the  West  Indies.  Those 
that  remained  in  company  with  Sir  William  reached  Boston  in  Novem¬ 
ber.  The  government  was  utterly  unprepared  for  this  result,  and 
having  no  money  to  pay  the  forces  on  their  return,  these  were  in  a 
state  of  mutiny.  An  experiment  was  made  to  issue  paper  notes,  but 
these  were  greatly  depreciated  in  value  at  the  time.  Wherefore,  Sir 
William  Phipps  did  not  remain  long  in  Boston,  and  he  embarked  for 
England,  to  urge  another  expedition  against  Canada.47 

On  the  borders,  a  war  of  reprisals  was  fiercely  waged.  One  Colonel 
Church  led  an  expedition  from  New  England  into  Maine,  where  lie 
attacked  the  Indians  with  some  success.  He  killed  numbers  and  made 
prisoners  of  many  others.  Some  of  these  he  put  to  death,  not  even 
sparing  women  and  children.  The  Indians  in  turn  retaliated.48 
Owing  however  to  French  influence,  they  were  instructed  only  to 
make  prisoners  of  those  they  surprised,  and  to  conduct  them  into 
Canada,  where  they  were  sold  as  servants,  but  otherwise  they  were 
kindly  treated  by  their  masters  and  mistresses.  In  travelling  through 
the  forests,  those  prisoners  suffered  great  hardships  and  exposure, 
especially  the  women  and  children  ;  for  their  long  marches  were  often 
made  in  the  depth  of  winter.  The  New  England  settlements  on  the 
French  borders  were  almost  wholly  abandoned.  Even  in  the  interior, 


45  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States,”  Vol.  iii.,  chap, 
xxi.,  pp.  189  to  191. 

46  On  this  occasion,  he  carried  off 
the  two  Catholic  Priests  residing  there, 
the  Rev.  Louis  Petit  and  the  Rev. 
Claude  Frouve.  The  former  was 
brought  to  Boston,  which  one  of  his 
associates  the  Rev.  M.  Goffroy  had 


previously  visited  in  1687,  on  his  way 
to  France. 

47  See  Hutchinson’s  “  History  of  the 
Colony  of  Massachusetts-Bay,”  Vol. 
i.,  chap,  iii.,  pp.  397  to  403. 

48  See  Hutchinson’s  “  History  of  the 
Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay,-’ 

Vol.  ii. ,  chap,  i.,  pp.  94  to  96. 


76 


1  KISH- AMERICAN  HlSTOllY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


tlie  houses  were  barricaded,  through  apprehension  of  an  Indian  surprise, 
and  when  the  New  Englanders  went  out  to  field  work,  the  men  took 
their  muskets  with  them,  to  be  prepared  for  any  emergency.  Although 
both  nations  suffered  severely,  while  carrying  on  those  raids,  yet  neither 
gained  any  solid  advantage.  At  length,  peace  was  concluded  between 
France  and  England  at  Ryswick,  iii  September  1697,  and  this  for  a 
time  ended  war  in  the  colonies.  In  America,  France  retained  all 
Hudson’s  Bay,  and  all  places  she  possessed  at  the  beginning  of  the 
War,  besides  Canada  and  the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi.  However,  the 
exact  boundary  lines  on  the  colonial  frontiers  were  reserved  as  subjects 
for  wrangling  among  the  commissioners;49  nor,  under  ?he  circumstances 
then  existing,  could  it  have  been  an  easy  matter  to  determine  their 
exact  demarcation. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


French  Settlements  on  the  Mississippi — Missionary  Enterprise — Intolerant  Laws 
in  New  York — Breaking  out  of  War  between  England,  France  and  Spain, 
in  1  702  -Rebellion  in  North  Carolina — French  Western  Colonization — Irish 
Eastern  Colonization  -  Events  in  New  England,  Maryland,  New  York  and 
the  Carolinas — French  Eiuerprise  in  Louisiana. 

Soon  after  the  termination  of  that  war,  which  ended  at  the  close  of 
the  seventeenth  century,  Louis  de  Baude  Comte  de  Erontenac,1  then 
Governor-General  of  New  France,  proceeded  to  occupy  the  Valley  of 
the  Mississippi.  In  1697,  he  had  located  colonies  at  several  points, 
both  north  and  south.  This  able  and  brave  man,  notwithstanding  his 
advanced  age,  continued  to  manifest  extraordinary  energy  of  mind  and 
acti  ity  of  body,  in  forwarding  the  prosperity  of  the  Canadian  French. 
Various  efforts  were  made  to  gain  over  the  Five  Nations  on  his  side, 
hut  English  influences  were  strongly  exercised  to  retain  them  as  allies. 
He  had  usually  to  contend  against  them  in  war,  while  supported  by 
other  Canadian  Indians.  When  seventy-six  years  of  age,  he  conducted 
an  expedition  against  Western  New  York,  and  having  obtained  some 
successes  over  the  Onondages  and  Oneidas,  his  army  returned  to 
Montreal.2 


4<J  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States,”  Vol.  iii.,  chap, 
xxi.,  pp.  191,  192. 

1  He  was  born  in  France,  1620. 
He  served  in  Holland,  under  the 
Prince  of  Orange,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three,  he  was  colonel  of  the 
Normandy  regiment.  He  was  dis¬ 
tinguished  in  various  battles  and 
sieges.  Having  been  wounded  several 
times,  he  was  raised  to  the  rank  of 
brigadier,  and  having  gained  a  high 


military  reputation,  in  1672  he  was 
made  Governor  of  Canada,  with  all 
the  other  countries  then  designated  as 
New  France.  In  1682,  he  was  re¬ 
called  to  France,  but  the  necetssities 
of  the  State  caused  him  to  return  in 
1689  to  Canada.  See  Appleton’s 
“  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Biography,’ 
Vol.  ii. ,  pp.  553,  554. 

2  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States,”  Vol.  iii.,  chap, 
xxi.,  pp.  190,  191. 


FRENCH  SETTLEMENTS  ON  TIIE  MISSISSIPPI.  77 


While  the  Franciscan  and  Jesuit  Fathers  heroically  proseouted  their 
Indian  missionary  toils  in  Canada  3  and  in  other  parts  of  North 
America,  many  among  the  Hurons,  the  Algonquin, s,  the  Chippewas,  the 
Abenakis,  the  Onondagas,  the  Cayugas,  the  Oneidas,  the  Mohawks,  the 
5Sioux,  Miamis,  the  Illinois,  the  Pottowattomies,  the  Sacs  and  the 
Foxes,  with  other  aboriginal  tribes,  were  added  to  the  fold  of  Christ.4 
Those  settlements  formed  in  the  Illinois  country  east  of  the  Mississippi, 
by  Father  La  Salle,  were  annually  on  the  increase.  Fearless  and  ener 
getic  Canadian  adventurers,  who  had  heard  of  the  fertile  lands  and  of  a 
more  temperate  climate,  were  desirous  of  proceeding  there.  Before  the 
close  of  the  seventeenth  century,  “  Old  Kaskaskia  ”  was  known,  not  only 
through  all  the  Illinois  country — of  which  it  was  for  several  years  the 
capital — but  throughout  Canada ;  while  those  Catholic  mission  posts 
established  by  La  Salle  had  grown  into  parishes.  The  tide  of  emigra¬ 
tion,  and  the  fair  fame  of  the  country,  introduced  numbers  of  French 
blood  and  race  among  the  native  Indians.5  After  the  death  of  Father 
Gabriel  Druilletes,  April  8th  1661,  we  find  the  names  of  Fathers 
James  and  Vincent  Bigot,  Julian  Binnetean,  Louis  Pierre  Thury  and 
Henri  Honore  Deschambeault,  as  serving  the  missions  in  Maine,  from 
1687  to  1699.  In  the  West,  Marquette  had  already  established  a 
mission  ;  Joutel  founded  a  gari  ison  at  Fort  St.  Louis  in  1687  ;  while 
throughout  the  territory  of  Illinois,  French  influence  prevailed. .  Until 
the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century,  settlements  in  New  France 
were  confined  entirely  to  the  eastern  side  of  the  Mississippi ;  but,  reports 
made  by  a  few  wandering  explorers,  that  both  gold  and  silver  were 
abundant  in  those  regions — now  called  Missouri  and  Arkansas — induced 
the  French  to  turn  their  attention  towards  them.6  Accordingly, 
towards  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century,  Count  de  Frontenac 
prepared  an  expedition  to  visit  the  mines  of  Upper  Louisiana.7  A 
fort  was  there  erected  and  settlements  wore  commenced.  However, 
prejudices  and  jealousies  of  the  savages  were  soon  excited.  Their 
demonstrations  of  hostility  induced  the  French  to  abandon  that  part  of 
the  country,  without  making  any  permanent  settlements.  Still,  motives 
of  national  policy  and  prospective  advantages  urged  them  to  select 
particular  sites,  wdiere  strongholds  should  be  built.  Soon  were  estab¬ 
lished  military  and  trading  posts  at  Detroit,  Peoria,  Vincennes,  Cahokia, 
Kaskaskia  and  Natchez,  while  Canadians  flocked  thither  in  various 
capacities. 

After  the  peace  of  Ryswick,  misunderstandings  and  disputes  regard- 


s  See  “  Relation  de  ce  qui  s’est  passe 
en  la  Nouvelle-  France  es  Annees  1664 
et  1665,  envo}ree  au  R.  P.  Provincial 
de  la  Province  de  France.”  Paris, 
1666,  8vo. 

4  See  John  Gilmarv  Shea’s  “History 
of  the  Catholic  Missions  among  the 
Indian  Tribes  of  the  United  States, 
1529—1854.”  New  York,  12mo. 


5  See  Bacqueville  de  la  Potheric’s 
“  Histoire  de  l’Amerique  Septentri- 
onale,”  Paris,  1722,  four  tomes, 
12mo. 

6  See  John  Gilmary  Shea’s  “  Early 
Voyages  up  and  down  the  Missis¬ 
sippi.”  New  York,  4to. 

‘  This  able  man  closed  his  adven¬ 
turous  career  at  Quebec,  1698. 


7  d  1RISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


ing  their  respective  boundaries  still  disturbed  the  French  Canadians 
and  the  English  Colonists.  That  line  between  New  France  and  New 
York  was  one  difficult  of  adjustment.  While  the  Iroquois  deemed 
themselves  to  be  an  independent  confederacy,  the  English  envoy  claimed 
their  lands  as  belonging  to  the  province  of  New  York ;  and,  he  even 
asserted,  that  those  countries  to  the  West  so  far  as  Mackinaw  belonged 
t©  England.  The  French  denied  this  claim,  however,  as  the  influence  of 
the  Jesuits,  who  had  missions  among  the  Five  Nations,  was  sufficient  to 
turn  their  sympathies  in  that  direction.8  Meantime,  Louis  Hector 
Callieres  Bonnevue9  had  been  appointed  Governor-General  of  Canada 
in  1699,  and  he  maintained  unimpaired  the  ascendency  acquired  by 
Frontenac,  having  founded  Detroit,  and  having  secured  the  friendship  of 
the  Western  tribes  by  negociations,  while  he  checked  the  hostile  demon¬ 
strations  of  the  Iroquois. 

It  is  to  be  regretted,  that  the  bigoted  policy  and  intolerant  spirit  of 
the  old  country  found  imitation  in  the  legislative  colonial  enactment 
of  the  new.  In  the  year  1700,  Richard  Coote  known  as  Lord  Bella- 
mont,  an  Irish  Peer,10  who  had  been  appointed  Governor  of  New  York 
in  1695  by  King  William  III.,  influenced  the  Assembly  to  pass  an  Act 
declaring,  that  every  Jesuit  or  other  popish  priest  coming  into  the  pro¬ 
vince  should  be  liable  to  perpetual  imprisonment.11  The  pretext  was, 
that  the  Catholic  priests  favoured  French  interests.12  If  a  priest  broke 
jail,  and  was  retaken,  the  penalty  was  death.  A  fine  of  £200,  with 
three  days  in  the  pillory,  was  the  punishment  decreed  for  harbouring  a 
priest.  Again,  by  a  law  passed  in  1702,  slaves  were  forbidden  to  meet 
together  in  greater  number  than  three,  except  when  assembled  for 
labour.  The  manumission  of  slaves  was  discouraged  by  a  heavy  fine. 
The  slaves  were  also  disqualified  from  bearing  evidence  against  any 
body  but  slaves  ;  while  no  Indian,  negro  or  mulatto,  even  when  free, 
could  hold  or  possess  lands,  tenements  or  hereditaments.  Although  by 
law,  masters  were  enjoined  to  baptize  their  slaves,  and  were  encouraged 
to  do  so  by  a  provision,  that  their  baptism  should  not  entitle  them  to 
freedom  ;  yet,  in  legislation,  they  are  distinguished  from  Christians, 
and  classed  with  the  Indians.13  During  Bellamont’s  administration, 
piracy  greatly  prevailed  on  the  seas  surrounding  colonial  possessions, 
and  this  kind  of  lawless  privateering  was  supposed  to  have  been  greatly 
encouraged  by  residents  along  the  coast.  One  of  the  duties  assigned 
to  him  was  to  suppress  this  custom  :  still,  as  none  of  the  Kiug’s  ships 


8  See  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
.United  States,”  Vol.  iii. ,  chap,  xxi., 

pp.  192  to  194. 

9  He  was  born  in  France,  1639,  and 
he  died  at  Quebec,  May  26th,  1703. 
See  Appleton’s  “  Cvclopa?dia  of  Ameri¬ 
can  Biography,”  Vol.  i.,  p.  506. 

10  Born  in  1636.  He  died  in  New 
York,  on  the  5th  of  March,  1701. 
See  Frederick  De  Peyster’s  “  Life  and 


Administration  of  Richard  Earl  of 
Bellamont.”  New  York,  1879,  8vo. 

11  See  John  O’Kane  Murray’s  “His¬ 
tory  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  the 
United  States.” 

12  See  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
United  States,”  Vol.  iii.,  chap,  xxi., 
p.  193. 

13  See  James  Grahame’s  “  History  of 
North  America.”  Book  v.,  chap.  ii. 


INTOLERANT  LAWS  IN  NEW  YORK.  79 

could  be  placed  at  liis  disposal  before  leaving  England,  he  had  a  sanc¬ 
tion  to  accomplish  the  matter  by  pi’ivate  enterprise.  Wherefore,  he 
formed  a  company  and  sent  out  a  sloop  under  command  of  William 
Kidd,14  an  adventurer  who  turned  pirate  himself.  He  was  finally  cap¬ 
tured,  and  sent  to  England  for  trial;  and  in  1701  he  was  there  executed, 
with  nine  of  his  accomplices. 

The  King  of  Spain  Charles  II.15  had  destined  Philip16  Duke  of  Anjou 
to  be  his  successor,  before  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  1st  of 
November  1700.  This  arrangement  greatly  alarmed  William  III.,17 
King  of  England  and  Stadtholder  of  Holland,  who  feared  the  alliance  of 
those  two  powerful  kingdoms  of  France  and  Spain,  directed  by  the 
celebrated  and  enterprising  monarch  Louis  XI  V.1S  Alliances  were  sought 
by  both  kings,  and  mutual  jealousies  or  ambitions  caused  the  breaking 
out  of  a  devastating  war,  which  commenced  in  Italy  and  extended  over 
a  great  part  of  Europe,  as  also  to  Asia  and  America.  Organized  on  a 
gigantic  scale,  before  hostilities  had  well  commenced,  however,  William 
III.  died,  and  his  sister-in-law  Queen  Anne  ascended  the  English 
throne.19  The  celebrated  John  Churchill,  afterwards  Duke  of  Marl¬ 
borough,20  was  generalissimo  of  her  armies  and  those  of  her  allies  on 
the  Continent  of  Europe,  where  he  contended  ably  and  with  varying 
success  against  the  forces  of  France  and  Spain.  England  was  assisted 
by  the  forces  of  Holland  and  of  Austria,  and  the  object  of  this 
tremendous  contest,  called  the  War  of  the  Grand  Alliance  of  the 
Succession,  was  expressed  by  the  House  of  Commons  to  be  for  preserving 


14  He  was  a  Scotchman  by  birth, 
and  it  is  thought  a  native  of  Green¬ 
ock. 

15  He  reigned  rrom  the  year  1665, 
when  an  infant,  to  that  of  his  death. 
See  “  Spain  under  Charles  II.  Ex¬ 
tracts  from  the  correspondence  of 
Alexander  Stanhope,  British  Minister 
at  Madrid  from  1690  to  1700.” 
London,  1840,  8vo. 

16  He  ascended  the  throne  of  Spain 
as  King  Philip  V.,  in  1700,  and 
reigned  to  1746.  See  Targe’s  “  His- 
toire  de  l’Avenement  de  la  Maison  de 
Bourbon  au  Trone  d’Espagne.”  Paris, 
1776,  in  six  tomes,  12mo. 

17  He  reigned  from  February  13th, 
1689,  to  the  8th  of  March,  1702.  See 
W alter  Harris’  “  History  of  the  Life 
and  Reign  of  William-Henry,  Prince 
of  Nassau  and  Orange,  Stadholder  of 
the  United  Provinces,  King  of  Eng¬ 
land,  Scotland,  Francs  and  Ireland, 
&c.  Dublin,  1749,  folio. 

13  This  celebrated  monarch,  born  in 
1638,  came  to  the  throne  of  France  at 
a  very  early  age,  and  reigned  seventy- 
two  years,  having  died  at  Versailles, 


September  1st,  1715,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven.  The  chief  events  of  his 
life  and  reign  are  set  forth  in  classical 
French  by  Voltaire,  in  his  most  inter¬ 
esting  national  work,  “  Siecle  de  Louis 
XIV.”  Of  course  his  actions  are  the 
subject-matter  for  many  French 
histories  and  memoirs  during  the  last 
two  centuries,  and  they  may  be 
largely  gleaned  from  “  QEuvres  de 
Louis  XIV.,”  in  six  volumes,  8vo. 
Paris,  1806. 

19  Her  reign  continued  from  March 
8th,  1702,  to  August  1st,  1714.  See 
Macpherson’s  “  Original  Papers  con¬ 
taining  the  Secret  History  of  Great 
Britain  from  the  Restoration  to  the 
Accession  of  the  House  of  Hanover,” 
in  two  volumes,  4to.  London,  1772. 
Also  Earl  Stanhope’s  “  History  of  Eng¬ 
land  comprising  the  Reign  of  Queen 
Anne  until  the  Peace  of  Utrecht.” 
London,  1871,  8vo. 

20  His  career  is  set  forth  in  vYilliam 
Coxe’s  “  Memoirs  of  John,  Duke  of 
Marlborough,”  in  three  volumes. 
London  1818,  1819. 


80  IR1SH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

the  liberties  of  Europe,  and  for  reducing  the  exorbitant  power  of 
France.21  The  allied  French  and  Spaniards  in  America  engaged  in  war 
with  England  and  her  colonies  a.d.  1702.  By  this  time,  the  French 
had  established  posts  at  different  advantageous  positions  along  the 
northern  lakes  and  even  so  far  as  the  distant  Mississippi.  Along  its 
course,  forts  had  been  built.  The, Spaniards  likewise  were  in  possession 
of  Florida.  The  Five  Nations  were  at  peace  with  both  France  and 
England.  By  a  mutual  contract  of  neutrality,  those  Indians  were 
favourably  placed  for  defending  the  north-western  parts  of  New  York.'22 
The  French  had  formed  treat'es  of  alliance  with  most  of  the  Indian 
tribes  to  the  west.  The  English-American  colonists  now  found  them¬ 
selves  Hemmed  in  on  all  sides,  and  they  received  little  aid  from  England. 
However,  in  September  1702,  an  expedition  from  South  Carolina 
anticipated  hostilities,  and  under  the  command  of  Governor  James 
Moore,  his  vessels  appeared  before  St.  Augustine.23  Two  thousand 
pounds  had  been  devoted  to  defray  all  expenses,  while  six  hundred 
militia  and  six  hundred  Indians  were  embodied  for  the  enterprise. 
Colonel  Daniel  was  engaged  to  co-operate  by  land.  The  Spanish 
garrison  had  stored  the  castle  with  four  months’  provisions,  being 
apprized  of  the  design.  The  invaders  wanted  battering  artillery  to 
besiege  it,  and  Daniel  now  set  out  for  Jamaica  to  pro  jure  some,  but  he 
narrowly  escaped  capture.  The  appearance  of  two  Spanish  men-of  war 
from  Havanna  at  the  mouth  of  the  harbour  terrified  the  Governor,  who 
abandoned  his  own  ships,  and  then  fled  without  delay  to  Carolina.  As 
a  result  of  this  rash  undertaking,  the  colony  had  to  bear  a  debt  of  six 
thousand  pounds,  to  be  discharged  by  bills  of  credit,  redeemable  in  three 
years,  out  of  a  duty  on  liquors,  skins  and  furs.24 

In  the  year  1704,  an  Act  was  passed  to  prevent  the  increase  of 
Popery  in  the  province  of  Maryland,  and  it  was  made  an  offence  to 
celebrate  Mass  in  any  but  private  houses.  The  priests  were  forbidden 
to  receive  converts  into  their  church,  or  to  discharge  any  other  duties 
of  their  ministry.  Moreover,  Catholics  were  forbidden  to  teach.  They 
were  also  taxed  in  the  double,  as  compared  with  assessments  levied  on 
Protestants.  Another  insulting  enactment  prevented  them  approaching 
within  one  hundred  yards  of  the  State  House.  In  that  land,  which 
the  Catholics  had  opened  to  Protestants  flying  from  fanatical  persecu- 


21  Thus  stated,  in  the  Parliamentary- 
History,  Vol.  vi.,  p.  4.  See  Henry 
Hallam’s  “  Constitutional  History  of 
England  from  the  Accession  of  Henry 
VII.  to  the  Death  of  George  II.” 
Vol  ii.,  chap,  xvi.,  p.  562.  Edition 
of  1827,  London,  in  two  vols.  4to. 

22  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States.”  Vol.  iii.,  chap, 
xxi..  p.  209. 

23  See  Rev.  Dr.  William  Henry 
Foote’s  “  Sketches  of  North  Carolina, 


Historical  and  Biographical.”  New 
York,  1846,  8vo. 

24  See  David  Ramsey’s  “  History  of 
of  South  Carolina,  from  its  Settle¬ 
ment  in  1670  to  the  year  1808,”  Vol. 
i.,  p.  129.  This  work  was  first  pub¬ 
lished  at  Trenton,  1785,  in  two  8vo 
vols.,  under  the  title  “History  of  the 
Revolution  of  South  Carolina  from  a 
British  Province  to  an  Independent 
State.”  This  was  also  translated  into 
French  by  Lefort,  and  published  at 
Londres  et  Paris,  1787. 


DISTURBANCES  IN  THE  CAROL! NAS. 


61 


tions  themselves,  the  Catholic  inhabitant  was  now  the  sole  victim  to 
Anglican  intolerance.-5  Notwithstanding  those  penal  statutes,  Catholic 
missionaries  continued  to  labour  among  their  respective  Hocks,  while  the 
faith  was  zealously  preserved  by  the  members  of  their  different  congre¬ 
gations.  With  good  judgment,  and  on  a  flue  site,  the  present  Baltimore 
was  laid  out  in  1729  as  a  town.  It  gradually  grew  to  be  erected  into  a 
city  in  1797. 26 

In  1705,  French  explorers  ascended  the  Missouri,  to  the  mouth  of 
Kansas  River.  There,  they  met  with  kind  and  hospitable  treatment 
from  the  Indians,  whose  forbearance  on  this  occasion  soon  obliterated 
the  remembrance  of  that  opposition  offered  by  the  savages  on  the  Mis 
sissippi.  The  war  in  Europe  at  this  time  demanded  all  the  resources 
ol  France.  It  required  likewise  all  their  attention  and  a  strain  on  the 
people,  both  in  old  France  and  in  “New  France."  Unable  to  keep  up 
the  usual  advances,  Louis  XIV.  had  allowed  his  colony  of  Louisiana  to 
become  reduced,  almost  to  the  last  degree  of  penury.  To  contribute 
either  men  or  money  for  its  support  was  out  of  the  question.  Still,  the 
king  was  intent  upon  keeping  Louisiana  from  the  hands  of  his  enemies. 
This  country,  it  was  believed,  must  contain  inexhaustible  mines  of  gold 
and  silver.  When  opened,  these  ought  not  only  place  the  colony  upon 
a  permanent  basis ;  but,  it  was  calculated,  they  should  be  more  than 
sufficient  to  remove  the  great  war-debt  of  France.  Luring  the  reign 
of  Louis  XIV.  this  heavy  burden  had  increased  to  upwards  of  two 
thousand  millions  of  iivres. 

In  the  Carolinas  a  mixed  population  had  settled,  and  factions 
prevailed  during  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  and  the  early 
portion  of  the  eighteenth  century.  While  the  proprietors  were  in¬ 
clined  to  introduce  and  propagate  the  doctrines  of  the  English  episcopal 
church,  the  great  body  of  the  people — denominated  by  the  oligar¬ 
chical  party,  “Quakers,  atheists,  deists,  and  other  evil-disposed 
persons” — strenuously  resisted  their  pretentions.  In  1700,  James 
Moore 27  was  governor  of  South  Carolina.  The  governor  of  this 
province  usually  appointed  his  deputy  to  rule  in  North  Carolina. 
However,  in  both  divisions  anarchy  generally  prevailed,  and  between 
the  proprietaries  and  the  people,  it  was  found  to  be  a  difficult  task  to 
settle  their  differences.  The  son  of  Governor  Moore28 — also  called 
James — had  early  acquired  renown  in  his  campaigns  against  the  Indians. 
In  1702,  he-  undertook  an  expedition  against  the  Spaniards,  at  St. 


25  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States,”  Vol.  iii.,  chap, 
xix.,  p.  32. 

26  See  “  An  Historical  View  of  the 
Governments  of  Maryland,  from  its 
Colonization  to  the  present  Day.” 
Baltimore,  1831. 

27  He  was  a  descendant,  it  is  said, 
of  the  celebrated  Roger  Moore,  and 
born  in  Ireland  about  1640.  He 


emigrated  to  America  in  1665,  and 
settled  at  Charlestown,  S.C.  He  died 
there  in  1721.  See  Appleton’s 
“  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Biography,” 
Vol.  iv.,  p.  381. 

28  He  was  born  in  Charlestown, 
S  C.,  in  1667,  and  he  died  near  Cape 
Fear,  N.C.,  November  10th,  1740. 
See  ibid. 

w 


82 


IRISII-AM  EltlCAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Augustine  in  Florida,  which  was  unsuccessful.  Again,  in  1703,  he 
embodied  a  force  of  fifty  whites  and  one  thousand  pagan  Indians  ; 29  he 
then  marched  against  the  Appalachees,30  who  were  Christian  Indians, 
instructed  and  baptized  by  the  Spanish  missionaries.  Those  had  been 
civilized,  and  they  had  formed  settlements  as  farmers  and  herdsmen  in 
middle  Florida.81  Their  villages  were  then  burned,  the  churches  were 
pillaged  and  destroyed,  while  the  converts,  numbering  two  thousand, 
were  forcibly  removed  to  Georgia. 

Very  early  in  the  eighteenth  century,  Irish  immigrants  began  to  seek 
their  homes  in  the  colonies.82  Want  of  access  to  local  United  States 
histories  and  family  records  prevents  more  than  merely  a  meagre 
enumeration  and  an  account  of  particular  persons  who  are  celebrated,  or 
of  the  general  numbers  who  entered  the  country  as  actual  settlers.  The 
following  incidents  of  early  colonization  serve  only  to  illustrate  the 
ubiquitousness  of  Irish- American  life  in  the  colonies.  A  free  and  a 
noble-hearted  Irishman,  named  Henry  Wileman,  owned  a  patent  for 
three  hundred  thousand  acres,  granted  in  1709,  and  he  commenced  the 
early  settlement  of  Wilemantown,  New  York.33  The  first  settlers  on 
the  Shenandoah  Valley  were  from  Ireland.  One  of  these  named  John 
Lewis  had  a  bloody  encounter  there  with  an  oppressive  land-holder 
under  whom  he  was  lessee,  and  he  fled  in  the  first  instance  for  refuge 
to  Portugal.  He  brought  his  wife  Mary  Lynn,  having  four  sons  and 
one  daughter,  when  he  settled  on  a  creek  running  into  the  middle  forks 
of  Shenandoah  River.  His  residence  was  a  few  miles  below  Stanton, 
standing  on  Lewis  Creek,  so  called  after  the  first  settler.  He  located 
land  in  different  places,  and  he  usually  made  judicious  selections. 
Much  about  the  same  time,  John  Mackey  took  up  his  residence 
at  Buffalo  Gap,  while  John  Sailing  settled  at  the  forks  of  James  River, 
below  the  Natural  Bridge.34  Among  the  early  settlers  in  Newburgh, 
New  York,  were  the  following  Irish  emigrants,  Wauch,  Sly,  McCollum, 
Denniston,  Wear,  Burnet,  Ireland,  Batie,  Crowell,  and  Ross.35  About 
the  year  1710,  numerous  Irish  immigrants  began  to  settle  about  the 
Blue  Ridge  Mountains,  in  the  present  counties  of  Patrick  and  Rock¬ 
bridge.  Several  Virginian  localities,  such  as  the  two  Rivers,  Mayo, 


29  See  John  Lawson’s  “  History  of 
Carolina,  with  its  Natural  History, 
Journal  of  a  Thousand  Miles’  Travels 
among  the  Indians  from  South  to 
North  Carolina,  Dictionary  of  their 
Languages.”  London,  1714,  sm.  4to. 

30  In  George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States,”  Yol.  iii.,  there  is 
a  historic  Dissertation  on  the  Abori¬ 
gines  east  of  the  Mississippi,  and  a 
Map  setting  forth  their  geographical 
distribution.  See  Chap.  xxii.  pp.  235 
to  318. 

31  See  Charlevoix’s  “  Histoire  de  la 
Nouvelle  France,”  Tome  iii.,  p.  473 

*2  In  1672,  Sir  William  Petty  esti¬ 


mated  the  Irish  population  at 
1,320,000.  In  the  beginning  of  the 
last  century,  the  inhabitants  had  in¬ 
creased  to  over  2,000,000,  and  of  this 
number,  several  made  their  way  to 
America. 

33 See  Eager’s  “History  of  Orange 
County,  New  York,”  pp.  260,  261. 

34  See  Rev.  William  Henry  Foote’s 
“  Sketches  Historical  and  Biographi¬ 
cal  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Virginia.”  Published  at  Philadelphia, 
in  8vo.  First  Series,  1849,  Second 
Series,  1855. 

35  See  Eager’s  “  History  of  Orange 
County, New  York.”  n.  92. 


IRISH  EASTERN  COLONIZATION. 


83 

McGaheysville,  Healys-town,  Kennedys-town,  Lynchburg,  McFarlands- 
town,  and  Kinsale,  are  undoubtedly  of  Irish  origin  ;  while  the 
McDowells,  McDuffys,  McGruders  and  Breckenridges,  with  several 
other  families,  came  from  Ireland.36  About  the  year  1711  or  1712,  an 
eminent  preacher  among  the  Quakers  came  from  Ireland,  and  settled  in 
New  Garden,  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania.  He  travelled  much  in 
their  service  being  greatly  esteemed  and  loved.37  One  of  the  original 
settlers,  in  Newbury  Colony  of  Massachusetts,  and  named  John  Kelly, 
was  of  Irish  descent.  Many  of  his  descendants  are  found  in  New 
Hampshire,  as  also  in  most  of  the  New  England  and  other  States.3*  An 
eminent  preacher  among  the  Quakers,  named  Thomas  Lightfoot,  came 
from  Ireland  in  1716.  He  was  much  beloved  for  his  piety  and  virtues. 
He  died  at  an  advanced  age,  a.d.  1725,  at  New  Garden,  in  Pennsyl¬ 
vania.39  The  first  settlement  in  Kinawha  County,  Virginia,  was  made 
by  an  Irishman  named  Kelly,  and  after  him  it  was  called  Kelly’s  Creek, 
twenty  miles  above  Charleston.40  The  first  Presbyterian  minister,  who 
regularly  settled  in  Virginia,  was  a  Mr.  Craig,  born  August  17th, 
1709,  in  the  parish  of  Donagar,  County  of  Antrim,  Ireland.41  A  very 
large  emigration  from  the  North  of  Ireland  to  Pennsylvania  took  place, 
between  the  years  1720  and  1730.  The  emigrants  at  once 
pushed  on  to  the  frontiers  of  Chester  County,  and  they  settled 
along  Chicques,  Alungo,  Swatara,  and  Paxtang  Creeks,  in  the  town¬ 
ship  of  Donegal.42  The  town  of  Dublin,  New  Hampshire,  was 
named  from  the  metropolis  of  Ireland.  Most  probably  many — if  not 
most — of  its  earliest  citizens  hailed  from  tke  latter  city.  In  a  petition 
for  incorporation,  it  is  described  as  a  of  land,  commonly  called 

and  known  by  the  name  of  Dublin  or  Monadock.43  In  the  year  1729, 
several  Longford  families  took  shipping  at  Dublin,  and  sailed  with  a 
brutal  mariner,  Captain  Rymer.  He  refused  to  land  them,  until  he 
extorted  extra  payment,  and  then  he  set  them  ashore  at  Cape  Cod, 


36  See  Thomas  D’Arcv  McGee’s 
“  History  of  the  Irish  Settlers  in 
North  America,”  chap,  ii.,  p.  26, 
Boston,  8vo. 

37  See  Robert  Proud’s  “  History  of 
Pennsylvania,  from  1681  tili  after  the 
Year  1742.”  Ar.  edition  appeared  in 
1797,  and  in  1798,  at  Philadelphia,  in 
two  vols.  8vo. 

38  See  Coffin’s  “  History  of  New¬ 
bury.” 

39  See  Proud’s  “  History  of  Penn¬ 
sylvania.” 

40  Among  the  earliest  settlers  were 
the  Morrisses,  whose  descendants 
afterwards  formed  a  tenth  of  the  popu¬ 
lation  of  the  count}7.  Joseph  Carroll, 
John  Young,  Andrew  Donnelly,  Mi¬ 
chael  Shee  were  also  very  early  settlers 


For  many  years  they  subsisted 
chiefly  on  buffalo,  bear,  elk,  deer, 
raccoon  meat  and  Indian  corn,  broken 
in  stone  mortars.  See  “  Historical 
Collections  of  Virginia,”  for  an  account. 

41  See  Foote’s  “Sketches  Historical 
and  Biographical  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Virginia.” 

42  The  following  are  some  of-  the 
names  mentioned,  Daunport,  Cart¬ 
ridge,  Baily,  Gordon,  Harris,  Burt, 
Hendricks,  *  Galbraith,  Croghan, 
Lowry,  McGintv,  &c.  The  two  latter 
travelled  Kentucky  both  ways,  and 
explored  that  territory  before  Gist 
made  his  appearance  south  of  the 
Ohio.  See  Potter’s  American 
Monthly,  for  March,  1875. 

43  See  “  History  of  Dublin,  New 
Hampshire,”  p.  13. 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


whence  some  of  them  moved  to  the  banks  of  the  beautiful  Hudson 
River.  Charles  Clinton  44  was  one  of  these,  and  even  then,  he  had  two 
sons  45  and  a  grandson,46  who  were  destined  to  become  distinguished 
historical  characters,  in  the  subsequent  annals  of  New  York.  So  early 
as  1730,  we  find  in  the  interior  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  townships 
■called  Derry,  •  Donegal,  Tyrone  and  Coleraine,  to  indicate  districts, 
whence  the  settlers  came  from  the  old  country.  And,  it  is  remarkable, 
that  for  the  year  ending  December  1729,  while  only  267  English  and 
Welsh,  43  Scotch,  and  343  Germans,  had  arrived  at  the  port  of 
Philadelphia,  no  less  than  5,655  Irish  landed  there47 — nearly  nine  early 
Irish  immigrants  tc  one  from  all  the  other  European  nationalities.48 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  the  Indians  of 
Maine  resenting  the  occupation  of  their  lands  by  English  settlers,  took 
revenge  by  massacre  and  burning  their  houses.49  The  New  Englanders 
sent  parties  of  armed  men  against  those  Indians,  but  seldom  succeeded 
in  reaching  them  in  the  woods  which  they  held.50  Several  inroads  on 
JSew  England  were  made  by  the  French  and  by  the  Indians  at  a  later 
period.  Some  towns  and  villages  were  burned,  while  many  of  the  colon¬ 
ists  were  killed.51  Although  the  French  priests,  naturally  attached  to 
the  interests  and  honour  of  their  nation,  sought  by  every  means  to  re¬ 
strain  such  excesses  ;  still  the  ferocity  of  their  savage  converts  could  not 
always  be  restrained,  especially  on  their  war  expeditions.  However,  the 
people  of  New  England  attributed  very  generally  those  marauding  excur¬ 
sions,  to  the  agency  of  the  fathers  living  among  their  foes.  The  Indians 
in  Maine  naturally  felt  indignant  that  any  encroachment  on  their  lands 
should  be  made.  The  Abenakis  there  had  long  been  Christians,  while 
the  French  priests  maintained  churches  and  flourishing  missions  on  the 
Penobscot  and  on  the  Kennebec.  Adjoining  the  latter  river,  there  was 
a  settlement  at  Norridgewock.  For  nearly  thirty  years,  it  was  under  the 
direction  of  the  Jesuit  Father  Sebastian  Rasies.52  In  the  year  1705,  a 
party  of  New  Englanders  had  burned  the  church  and  village  of  Nor¬ 
ridgewock  in  Maine,  but  these  were  soon  rebuilt. 

Meanwhile,  the  needy  and  profligate  Edward  Hyde53  Lord  Corn- 
bury  had  been  sent  out  in  1702,  as  Governor  of  New  York  and  New 
Jersey;54  but,  he  was  charged  with  appropriating  money  to  his  own 


44  He  was  born  in  the  County  of 
Longford,  Ireland,  in  1690,  and  he 
died  in  Orange  Country,  N.Y.  No¬ 
vember  19th,  1773. 

45  These  were  General  George  Clin¬ 
ton,  and  General  James  Clinton. 

46  See  Hoozack’s  “Memoir  of  De 
Witt  Clinton,”  New  York,  1829,  8vo. 

47  Gordon’s  “History,”  pp.  207,  208, 

411  See  Holme’s  “  Annals  of  Amer¬ 
ica,”  Vol.  i. 

49  See  William  Hubbard’s  “  Narra¬ 
tive  ot  the  Indian  Wars  in  New 
England.”  Boston,  1775. 


50  See  Daniel  Neal’3  “  History  of 
New  England,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  xiii., 
pp.  171  to  191. 

51  See  Hutchinson’s  “  History  of  the 
Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay,”  Vol. 
ii.,  chap,  ii.,  pp.  134  to  147. 

52  See  Charlevoix’s  “  Histoire  de  la 
Nouvelle  France,”  Tome  ii. 

53  He  was  a  kinsman  to  Queen 
Anne,  being  grandson  of  Lord  Chan¬ 
cellor  Clarendon,  her  grand- father  on 
the  mother’s  side. 

54  The  proprietors  had  recently 
surrendered  its  government  to  the  crown. 


THE  FRENCH  AND  SPANIARDS  ATTACK  CHARLESTOWN. 

ase,  which  the  Assembly  of  New  York  had  raised  at  his  instance,  for 
ihe  erecting  of  batteries  at  the  Narrows.  He  also  continued  to  charge 
enormous  fees,  while  he  demanded  money  repeatedly,  and  then  mis¬ 
applied  it.  At  the  expense  of  other  sects,  he  sought  to  establish 
Protestant  episcopalianism  in  every  quarter  of  his  province.  Soon  a 
bitter  quarrel  arose  between  himself  and  the  Assembly.  The  members, 
passed  a  resolution,  “That  the  imposing  and  levying  of  any  moneys 
upon  Her  Majesty’s  subjects  of  this  colony,  under  any  pretence  or 
colour  whatsoever  without  their  consent  in  General  Assembly,  is  a 
grievance,  and  a  violation  of  the  people’s  property.”  At  length,  the 
united  complaints  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey  induced  the  Queen  to 
recall  him  in  1706. 

An  expedition  had  been  fitted  out  at  Havanna,  conjointly  by  the 
French  and  Spanish  governments,  to  take  possession  of  Carolina.  It 
was  placed  under  the  command  of  M.  Le  Feboure,  captain  of  a 
French  frigate,  having  four  other  armed  vessels  and  eight  hundred 
men  to  second  the  effort.  Aware  of  these  preparations,  Sir  Nathaniel 
Johnson  the  Governor  began  to  erect  works  of  defence  about  the 
harbour  of  Charlestown,  where  the  enemy  was  expected  to  land.. 
In  1706,  while  approaching  the  place  by  sea,  a  force  of  militia  and 
Indians  had  been  collected  for  its  defence.  The  French  and  Spaniards 
attacked  Charlestown  three  several  times.  They  were  repulsed 
however  by  the  inhabitants,  who  captured  a  French  frigate,  with 
a  number  of  their  men.65  An  expedition  was  fitted  out  likewise 
by  Governor  Dudley  of  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire  in 

1707,  to  ravage  the  settlements  of  Acadia  and  to  take  the  French  fort 
at  Port  Royal.  Connecticut  contributed  her  quota  towards  the 
1,000  men,  who  sailed  on  the  13th  of  May  from  Nantasket,  in  twenty- 
three  transports  under  convoy  with  two  ships  of  war.  Under  the  com¬ 
mand  of  Colonel  March,  they  reached  Port  Royal  in  a  few  days.  This, 
attempt  pi’oved  to  be  a  failure,  for  on  reconnoitring  the  place,  it  was 
deemed  too  strong  for  any  hostile  assault,  and  the  troops  that  had  landed 
there  again  re-embarked,  having  spent  ten  days  in  fruitless  parade  about 
the  fortress.  A  similar  hostile  enterprise  was  planned  the  following 
year,  and  the  English  ministry  having  promised  to  send  five  regiments  of 
regular  troops,  twelve  hundred  men  raised  in  Massachusetts  and  Rhode 
Island  were  held  in  readiness  to  sail  from  Boston  for  Quebec.  The 
colonies  southwards  were  expected  to  furnish  fifteen  hundred  men,  to 
march  by  way  of  Lake  Champlain  against  Montreal.  After  waiting  many 
months  for  the  arrival  of  the  British  troops,  and  learning  at  last,  that 
the  necessity  for  supporting  the  great  European  war  had  obliged  Eng¬ 
land  to  send  them  to  Portugal,  the  colonists  found  it  impracticable  to 
continue  longer  in  arms,  and  that  project  was  then  abandoned.  Mean¬ 
while  the  Irish  Catholic  settlers  in  Maryland  became  so  numerous  in 

1708,  that  the  Protestant  inhabitants  there  took  umbrage.  They  passed 

68  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  iii.,  chap.  xxi. 


86 


IRISH -AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


an  intolerant  ict,  which  imposed  a  fine  of  twenty  shillings  as  a  poll- 
tax  on  Irish  servants,  to  prevent  importing  too  great  a  number  of 
Irish  Papists  into  the  province.56  Notwithstanding  the  violation  of 
every  principle  of  justice  and  of  every  sound  maxim  of  policy,  such 
legislation  prevailed  in  various  other  colonies  at  this  time. 

It  was  deemed  expedient  once  more,  to  organize  an  expedition 
against  the  French,  and  the  colonists  of  New  England  applied  to  the 
Queen  for  support.  Accordingly,  Colonel  Nicholson,  who  had  com¬ 
manded  those  troops  destined  for  Montreal  the  year  previous,  came  over 
from  England  with  five  frigates  and  a  bomb-ketch.  He  was  joined  by 
three  regiments  of  New  England  troops.  They  sailed  from  Boston  on 
the  18th  of  September  1710,  and  arrived  before  Port  Royal  on  the  24th 
of  that  month.  57  An  attack,  which  was  supported  by  ships  of  war, 
resulted  on  the  3th  of  October  in  the  surrender  of  Port  Royal,  which 
was  afterwards  called  Annapolis,  in  honour  of  the  reigning  sovereign. 
Acadia  was  also  ravaged.  Immediately  afterwards,  General  Nicholson 
annexed  it,  under  the  title  of  Nova  Scotia,  to  the  British  crown.58  Soon 
afterwards,  he  returned  to  England,  where  his  representations  and 
influence  resolved  the  ministry  to  plan  an  invasion  on  a  still  larger  scale. 

In  the  year  1711,  a  great  effort  was  made,  in  combination  with  the 
colonists,  to  take  possession  of  Canada.  Large  sums  of  money  were 
raised  by  New  York,  Massachusetts  and  Pennsylvania,  while  a  strong 
body  of  colonial  militia  was  held  ready  to  march.  A  fleet  consisting  of 
fifteen  warships  and  forty  transports,  having  seven  veteran  regiments  of 
Marlborough’s  army  on  board,  now  arrived  in  Boston  harbour.  At  this 
this  time,  the  population  of  Canada  hardly  numbered  twenty  thousand, 
while  that  of  the  English  colonies  might  have  been  near  four  hundred 
thousand.  Notwithstanding,  the  French  made  strenuous  efforts  for 
measures  of  defence.59  Provisions  were  impressed  for  use  of  those  about 
to  take  part  in  such  expeditions,  while  Massachusetts  issued  £40,000  in 
bills  of  credit,  to  bear  her  portion  of  the  charges.  This  extravagant  issue, 
in  the  existing  state  of  her  resources,  afterwards  caused  great  financial  em¬ 
barrassments,  and  it  soon  produced  a  depreciated  currency.  New  York 
had  also  contributed  £10,000  in  bills  of  credit,  while  she  incurred  debts 
to  a  still  greater  amount.  Fifteen  hundred  colonial  soldiers  were 
j  assembled  at  Albany,  with  eight  hundred  warriors  of  the  Five  Nations,60 
(  for  an  intended  attack  on  Montreal.  The  fleet  sailed  from  Boston  for 
•  Quebec,  on  the  30th  of  J uly ,  under  the  command  of  Admiral  Hovenden 
Walker,  and  carrying  seven  thousand  soldiers,  under  the  command  of 
the  British  General  Hill.  Great  anticipations  of  success  had  been 


86  See  the  “  History  of  Baltimore.” 

57  See  for  details  of  this  expedition, 
Hutchinson’s  “  History  of  Massachu¬ 
setts-Bay,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  ii.,  pp. 
180  to  i84. 

58  See  Haliburton’s  “  Historical  and 
Statistical  Account  of  Novia  Scotia.” 
Halifax.  1829. 


59  See  Charlevoix’s  “  Histoire  de  la 
Nouvelle  France,”  Tome  ii.,  pp.  351-361. 

60  For  an  account  of  these  Indian 
tribes  the  reader  is  referred  to  Cad- 
wallader  Colden’s  “  History  of  the 
Five  Indian  Nations  depending  on 
the  Province  of  New  York,”  Pub¬ 
lished  at  New  York,  1727,  8vo. 


ENGLISH  EXPEDITION  AGAINST  CANADA. 


87 


formed  by  the  English  ministry,  but  these  were  doomed  to  disappoint¬ 
ment.61  The  Admiral  and  General  were  court  favourites,  and  as  such, 
they  had  been  selected  for  the  high  commission  entrusted  to  them. 
Both  were  equally  inefficient  and  through  culpable  negligence,62  the 
former  ruined  all  their  prospects.  A  part  of  the  fleet  was  wrecked  in 
the  River  St.  Lawrence,  and  one  thousand  men  then  perished.  Ten 
transports  were  cast  away  on  Egg  Island,  August  23rd.  Whereupon, 
Admiral  Walker  abandoned  the  expedition,  and,  not  daring  to  attack 
the  French  at  Cape  Breton,  he  returned  to  England.  This  untoward 
occurrence  prevented  an  intended  movement  of  the  land  forces  under 
Nicholson.63  At  this  time  also,  a  war  with  the  Five  Nations  was 
apprehended,  and  rumours  of  a  conspiracy  among  the  slaves  greatly 
excited  the  people  of  New  York.  Owing  to  the  harshness  of  treatment, 
with  which  those  unfortunate  beings  were  harrassed  by  their  masters, 
a  formidable  insurrection  broke  out,  in  the  year  17 12, 64  but  it  was 
speedily  suppressed.  After  the  failure  of  the  English  expedition  against 
Canada,  the  colonies  were  greatly  exposed  to  French  depredations, 
especially  on  their  northern  frontiers.65  In  the  year  1713,  however,  a 
treaty  of  peace  was  signed  at  Utrecht,  and  proclaimed  on  the  5th  of 
May.66  This  ended  the  war  in  America,  France  retaining  posses¬ 
sion  of  Canada,  but  ceding  Acadia  and  Newfoundland,  while 
making  over  to  Britain  her  claims  to  the  sovereignty  of  the  Five 
Nations. 

The  special  privileges  granted  bt7  the  crown,  for  the  encouragement  of 
emigration  to  Carolina  had  been  published  throughout  Great  Britain  ,nd 
Ireland,  in  the  earlier  part  of  the  eighteenth  century.  This  bounty  in¬ 
duced  multitudes  of  industrious  labourers  and  husbandmen  in  Ireland, 
who  had  been  oppressed  by  their  landlords,  and  through  the  existing  state 
of  the  laws  there,  to  embark  for  Carolina,  where  they  hoped  to  procure  a 
comfortable  subsistence  for  themselves  and  for  their  families.67  Of  all 
other  countries,  Ireland  furnished  the  province  of  South  Carolina  with 
the  greatest  number  of  early  inhabitants.  Hardly  a  ship  sailed  from  any 


61  When  St.  John,  afterwards 
Lord  Bollingbroke,  heard  that  the 
fleet  had  safely  arrived  at  Boston,  he 
wrote  exultingly  to  the  Duke  of 
Orrery,  “  I  believe  you  may  depend 
on  our  being  masters,  at  this  time, 
of  all  North  America.” 

62  In  Bishop  Burnet’s  “  History  of 
his  own  Time,”  the  author  attributes 
incorrectly  the  loss  of  the  fleet  solely 
to  a  storm.  See  Vol.  ii  ,  Book  vii., 

.  578.  This  work  was  published  in 
ondon,  1724  and  1734,  in  two  folio 
vols. 

63  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  iii.,  chap, 
xxi.,  p.  224. 

84  See  Jamea  Grahame’s  “  History 


of  North  America,”  Book  v.,  chap, 
ii. 

65  In  the  year  1713,  H  Moll’s 
“  Atlas  of  Maps  ”  appeared,  and  in  it 
are  many  folding  Maps  engraved  on 
copper.  Ten  of  these  are  devoted  to 
America,  and  these  include  the  Eng¬ 
lish  dominions  in  that  country. 

66  The  details  of  this  treaty  are 
very  minutely  set  forth  in  Dean 
Swift’s  “History  of  the  Four  last 
Years  of  Queen  Anne,”  Book  the 
fourth,  and  to  be  found  in  Thomas 
Roscoe’s  edition  of  his  works,  Yol.  i., 
pp.  473  to  490. 

67  See  “  Rise  and  Progress  of  Caro' 
lina  and  Georgia,”  by  Alexander 
Henrett,  London,  1779. 


IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


of  its  ports,  that  had  not  been  crowded  with  men,  women  and  children.68 
Williamsburg  on  the  Black  River  was  peopled  by  Irish  in  1734,  as  also 
Camden  on  the  Wateree.  In  the  Indian  districts  of  Waxhaws  on  the 
Santee  River,  a  considerable  Irish  colony  settled  ;  and  from  these 
colonists  are  derived  the  historic  names  of  Rutledge,  Jackson,  and 
Calhoun. 

In  the  year  1715,  the  fourth  Lord  Baltimore — whose  family  name 
was  Benedict  Charles  Calvert — being  a  Protestant  recovered  proprietary 
rights,  and  these  remained  vested  in  his  family  tc  the  period  of  the 
American  Revolution.  Notwithstanding  the  penal  enactments  of  a 
previous  date,  these  did  not  prevent  the  influx  of  Irish  Papists  into 
Maryland  ;  and  we  find,  that  in  1717,  another  Act  of  proscription  even 
more  stringent  was  passed  against  them.69 

The  proprietors  of  the  Carolinas  had  been  long  involved  in  disputes 
with  their  tenants,  the  latter  having  well  founded  charges  expressive  of 
their  grievances  to  allege  against  Lord  Granville  the  Palatine,  who  was 
a  bigoted  churchman.  He  impoliticly  aggravated  this  quarrel  during 
the  war  and  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1707.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Lord  Craven,  who  was  a  more  liberal  and  tolerant  member  of  the 
same  denomination.  The  settlers  in  North  Carolina,  having  encroached 
on  the  Indian  lands,  found  themselves  engaged  in  war  with  the 
Tuscaroras,  from  1711  to  1713.  At  length,  that  tribe  was  driven  out  of 
the  country,  and  these  Indians  retired  to  western  New  York.  There, 
they  were  admitted  into  the  confederacy  of  the  Five  Nations.  After 
this,  the  Indians  composing  it  were  often  known  as  the  Six  Nations.7® 
The  Yamassees,  Catawbas,  Cherokees  and  Creeks  ravaged  the  outlying 
settlements  in  South  Carolina,  thus  obliging  the  planters  to  retire  on 
Charlestown  for  protection  in  1715.  Finally,  about  six  thousand  of  the 
Yamassees,  encountered  at  a  place  called  Salt  Catchers,  were  completely 
routed  and  driven  into  Florida.  In  the  course  of  a  short  time  succeed¬ 
ing,  the  other  tribes  made  peace. 

It  was  now  resolved  by  the  Assembly,  that  a  barrier  should  be 
opposed  to  the  return,  of  the  Yamassees,  by  offering  their  territory 
to  all  adventurers,  who  should  come  and  settle  in  it.  Those 
Indians  having  been  expelled  by  the  proprietors  from  South 
Carolina,  the  council  announced  in  England  and  Ireland,  that  their  lands 
should  be  partitioned  and  given  to  actual  settlers.  This  offer  induced 
500  persons  to  remove  from  Ireland,  but  only  to  find,  that  the 
proprietors  were  false  to  their  promises.  Many  of  those  immigrants 
having  spent  their  money  were  reduced  to  the  extreme  of  misery, 
and  they  were  famished  with  hunger,  while  others  who  had  saved 
something  removed  thence  to  the  northern  colonies.71  But  all 
settlers  were  not  disposed  to  yield  submission  to  the  adverse  condition 


68  See  Ramsey’s  “  History  of  South 
Carolina.” 

69  See  “  History  of  Baltimore.” 

70  See  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 


United  States,”  Vol.  iii.,  chap,  xxiii. 
pp.  319  to  322. 

71  See  Ramsey’s  “History  of  South 
Carolina.” 


FRENCH  ENTERPRISE  IN  LOUISIANA. 


89 


of  affairs.  The  proprietors  there  opposed  the  electoral  laws  of 
the  legislature,  and  the  issue  of  paper  money.  Besides  they  sent  in¬ 
structions  to  the  Governor  Robert  Johnson,  to  approve  of  no  legislative 
measures,  until  these  had  been  first  laid  before  them.  A  popular  insur¬ 
rection  took  place  in  Carolina  a.d.  1.719,  as  a  consequence  of  these  and 
other  arbitrary  orders.  The  occasion  was  furnished,  when  it  had  been 
rumoured,  that  an  expedition  was  being  fitted  out  in  Havana,  and  that 
its  destination  was  Carolina.  Governor  Johnson  proposed  preparation 
for  this  emergency,  by  raising  a  subscription  among  the  inhabitants  for 
repairing  the  forts  in  Charlestown  harbour.  Meantime,  the  proprietors 
had  sent  an  order,  that  the  Assembly  should  remove  a  duty  of  five  per 
cent,  which  had  been  levied  on  British  manufactures.  The  Assembly 
protested  against  their  right  to  revoke  the  laws  of  the  province,  and  they 
asserted,  that  receipts  from  the  duties  should  suffice  for  the  projected 
works.  A  violent  altercation  then  arose  between  the  Governor  and  the 
Assembly.  Private  meetings  were  held  to  concert  measures  for  resistance. 
The  militia  unanimously  subscribed  a  pledge  of  association,  while  the 
people  engaged  to  stand  by  each  other,  in  the  assertion  of  their  rights 
and  privileges.  At  the  next  meeting  of  the  Assembly,  the  proprietors 
were  declared  to  have  forfeited  their  rights  of  government,  while  the 
Hon.  Robert  Johnson  was  desired  to  accept  the  governor’s  office,  but 
in  the  name  of  the  King.  After  a  vain  effort  at  conciliation,  he  proclaimed 
the  dissolution  of  the  Assembly,  but  this  proclamation  was  torn  from 
the  officer’s  hands.  The  Assembly  thereupon  elected  Colonel  John 
Moore  as  their  chief  magistrate.  The  Governor  had  retired  into  the 
country ;  but  when  he  came  to  Charlestown,  for  the  purpose  of  holding 
a  militia  review,  the  men  paraded  in  the  public  square  openly  celebrated 
the  inauguration  of  Moore  as  the  King’s  Governor.  The  Assembly  then 
chose  their  own  council,  and  deliberately  set  about  the  transaction  of 
public  business.  The  people  were  on  their  side  almost  unanimously, 
while  their  English  agent  obtained  a  decision  from  the  King’s  council, 
that  the  proprietors  had  forfeited  their  rights.  Soon  afterwards,  a  Mr. 
Francis  Nicholson  was  sent  out  as  royal  Governor,  to  the  great  delight 
of  the  provincials.72 

Mutual  friendship  and  confidence  had  been  established  between 
the  French — whose  capacity  for  colonization  is  so  proverbial — and 
all  the  Western  tribes  of  Indians.  Emigrants  from  the  St.  Lawrence 
continued  to  enter  the  Illinois  district,  which  was  then  settling  up 
rapidly.  Old  Kaskaskia  had  become  the  capital  of  that  country. 
The  authorities,  during  1712,  issued  land  titles  for  a  “common  field,” 
while  deeds  and  titles  were  made  out  to  aid  the  people  in  the  pursuit 
of  important  public  and  private  enterprises.  In  view  of  present  pros¬ 
perity  and  a  promising  future  for  the  Illinois,  the  French  then  looked 
upon  it  as  a  terrestrial  paradise.  Mines  of  precious  ores  were  believed 
to  exist,  on  either  side  of  the  great  river.  The  monarch  of  France  Louis 

7"See  J.  A.  Doyle’s  “  English  in  America,”  Chap,  xii.,  pp.  437  to  508.  London, 
1882,  8 vo. 


SO  IRISII-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


XIV.  at  last  granted  the  exclusive  privilege  in  all  the  trade  and  com¬ 
merce  of  the  province  to  Anthony  Crozat,  a  wealthy  and  an  influential 
merchant  of  France."3  He  had  prospered  in  opulence,  to  the  astonish¬ 
ment  of  all  the  world.  His  charter  embraced  sixteen  years,  dating 
from  the  26th  of  September  1712,  to  the  26th  of  September  1728. 
As  then  held  by  France,  Louisiana  embraced  the  entire  Mississippi 
valley,  from  the  Alleghanies  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  even 
northwards  to  the  lakes  in  Canada.  At  that  time  there  were  less  than 
380  Europeans  in  the  lower  half  of  the  district  described  ;  yet,  Crozat 
entered  upon  his  projects,  and  with  an  energy  which  exhibited  his 
confidence  in  this  gigantic  and  hazardous  undertaking.  He  adopted 
for  government  of  the  country  the  laws,  usages  and  customs  of  Paris. 
These  were  the  first  covenants  of  civilized  society  that  were  ever  in 
existence  between  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony. 
They  were  principally  copied  from  the  Roman  civil  law. 

In  1712,  M.  de  la  Motte  Cadillac  was  appointed  Royal  Governor  of 
Louisiana  by  Louis  XIV.  He  arrived  in  Louisiana  in  1713.  In  order 
to  enlist  his  zeal  in  the  commerce  of  the  colony,  Crozat  associated  La 
Motte  as  a  partner  in  his  own  operations.  However,  La  Motte  was  a 
self-important  and  an  egotistical  man,  whose  elevation,  from  obscurity 
in  France  to  the  position  of  “  Royal  Governor  of  Louisiana,”  rendered 
him  almost  unfit  even  for  association  with  his  superiors.  When  he  was 
ordered  by  the  ministry  to  assist  the  agents  of  Crozat  in  establishing 
trading  posts  on  the  Wabash  and  Illinois,  he  at  once  got  into  bad 
humour.  He  had  the  hardihood  to  write  back  to  the  ministry,  that 
Crozat’s  instructions  to  his  agents  seemed  to  have  issued  from  a  lunatic 
asylum.  He  declared,  that  for  useful  or  profitable  purposes,  boats 
could  not  run  up  the  Mississippi  into  the  Wabash,  the  Missouri,  or  the 
Red  River.  This  M.  de  la  Motte,  the  first  governor  under  the  new 
grant,  and  an  escort  arrived  in  the  Illinois  country,  which  also 
comprised  Missouri,  in  1713.  Anticipating  an  astonishing  profit  from 
the  mines,  which  the  French  hourly  expected  to  find,  little  attention 
was  given  to  agriculture,  except  by  a  few  individuals.  Large  invest¬ 
ments  were  therefore  necessary  to  purchase  provisions.  These,  with 
other  expenses  of  the  colony,  greatly  exceeded  the  profits  of  its  trade. 
After  a  trial  of  five  years,  having  failed  in  all  his  plans,  Crozat  resigned 
his  charter.74 

Soon  after  this  relinquishment,  the  colony  of  Louisiana  was 
granted  by  a  patent,  containing  similar  privileges  and  restrictions,  to 
the  “  Compagnie  de  1’  Occident,”  or  “  Company  of  the  West.”  This 
organization  obtained  an  extravagant  authority,  to  monopolize  all  the 
trade  and  commerce  of  Louisiana  and  of  New  France,  to  declare 


73  See  “  Memoires  sur  la  Louisiane 
et  la  Nouvelie  Orleans,  aceompagnes 
d’une  Dissertation  sur  les  Avantages 
qae  le  Commerce  de  l’Empire  doit 
tirer,”  &c.  Paris,  1804,  8vo. 


•  By  decree  of  the  Royal  Council  23rd 
August,  1717.  He  returned  to  France  and 
died  in  Paris,  June  7th.  1738.  See  “  Me¬ 
moires  de  Saint-Simon,”  Tome  xiii.,  p. 
328,  Paris  Edition  of  1829,  1830. 


FRENCH  ENTERPRISE  IN  LOUISIANA.  91 

and  to  prosecute  wars,  to  appoint  officers,  and  to  exercise  almost 
sovereign  sway.  This  company  was  under  the  direction  of  the  noto¬ 
rious  John  Law.75  After  some  time,  M.  de  la  Motte  76  was  succeeded 
by  M.  de  l’Espinay  as  Governor  and  Chief  Commander  in  Louisiana. 
By  this  company,  Philippe  Francis  Renault  had  been  appointed 
Director-General  of  the  Mines  of  Louisiana.  With  two  hundred 
miners  and  skilful  assayers,  he  arrived  in  the  Illinois  country  in  1719. 
His  miners  were  soon  despatched  in  different  directions,  to  explore  the 
country  on  both  sides  of  the  Mississippi.  During  the  year  1719  and 
1720,  Sieur  de  Lochen,  M.  de  la  Motte  and  a  number  of  other  adven¬ 
turers  explored  that  country,  lying  between  the  Missouri  and  those 
swamps  east  of  the  Ozark  Hills.  In  1719,  the  former  commenced 
digging  on  the  Merrimac  river,  where  he  raised  several  hundred  pounds 
of  lead.  After  various  tedious  experiments,  he  produced  from  this 
quantity  two  drachms  of  silver,  and  then  he  left  the  lead  as  worthless. 
Those  treasure-seekers  were  in  search  of  gold  and  silver ;  hence  lead 
had  but  a  slight  value  in  their  estimation,  nor  had  they  apparently  a 
presentiment  of  that  wealth  it  was  destined  to  produce,  in  the  future 
commerce  of  Missouri.  The  miners  and  assayers  sent  out  by  the 
Company  of  the  West  were  required  carefully  to  observe  and  to 
report  the  presence  of  any  rich  ores,  which  might  be  discovered  during 
their  explorations.  They  were  oldiged  even  to  mark  such  localities. 
Those  excursion  parties  were  headed  either  by  Director-General 
Renault  or  by  M.  de  la  Motte.  During  one  of  their  earliest  excur¬ 
sions,  the  latter  discovered  those  lead  mines  which  bear  his  name  near 
Fredericktown,  in  the  present  state  of  Missouri.  Soon  afterwards, 
Renault  discovered  those  mines  north  of  Potosi,  which  are  named  in 
remembrance  of  him.  Failing  to  find  either  gold  or  silver,  Renault 
and  his  miners  turned  their  attention  to  working  the  lead  mines.77 
The  great  Mississippi  Company  of  the  French  soon  established  a  post 
in  the  Illinois  country  There,  the  agents  built  Fort  Chartres  in  the 
great  American  Bottom,  about  sixty-five  miles  below  the  mouth  of 
the  Missouri  River,  in  1720-21.  At  the  time  of  its  completion,  this 
was  one  of  the  strongest  fortresses  on  the  continent.  Numerous 
French  settlements  and  villages  were  soon  formed  under  the  protection 
it  afforded. 


75  See  A.  Cochut’s  “  Law,  son 
Svsteme  et  son  Epoque  1716-1729  ” 
Paris,  1853.  8vo. 

76  It  is  thought,  however,  that  he 
was  one  of  de  Bienville’s  expedition, 
when  he  discovered  certain  mines  in 
Madison  County,  in  the  present  State 
of  Missouri,  and  which  still  perpetu¬ 
ate  his  name.  Circumstances  appear 
to  prove  that  section  "of  country  was 


explored,  and  that  lead  ore  had  been 
found  abundant,  so  early  as  1718. 

77  This  was  continued  until  1742, 
when  he  returned  to  France-.  From 
the  number  of  ancient  diggings  and 
other  indications,  it  is  probable 
enough,  that  large  amounts  of  ore 
were  taken  out  and  manufactured. 
These  products  were  principally 
shipped  to  the  parent  country  in  Europ  \ 


IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


92 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


Events  in  New  England  and  in  the  Carolinas— Settlement  of  Georgia — Proceed¬ 
ings  in  New  York — French  Enterprise  in  Louisiana — Hostilities  in  the  West 
between  the  French  and  Spaniards— Irish  Colonization  in  the  early  Tart  of 
the  Eighteenth  Century. 

After  those  native-born  colonists  and  emigrant.-  from  the  mother- 
country  settled  in  their  exposed  homes,  the  Indian  aboriginal  tribes — 
and  especially  those  bordering  on  New  England — frequently  attacked 
them.1  We  know  that  in  Massachusetts — as  in  other  colonies — the 
Irish  element  had  been  well  represented,  even  in  the  seventeenth  cen¬ 
tury,  while  the  increase  of  numbers  was  still  more  considerable  in 
succeeding  ages.  Many  of  those  immigrants  came  from  Derry,  and  these 
founded  the  town  of  Derryfield,  near  Boston  ;  but,  that  place  was  after¬ 
wards  called  Manchester  by  the  English,  just  as  they  changed  New  Am¬ 
sterdam  into  New  York,  and  Fort  Duquesne  to  Pittsburgh.  It  has  been 
stated,  that  the  celebrated  Bunker  Hill,  near  Boston,  had  been  so 
called  after  one  similarly  named  in  Ireland. 

Meantime,  the  Indians  in  Maine  began  to  feel  alarmed  at  the 
encroachments  of  the  New  Englanders  on  their  territories.  In  1704 
and  1705,  some  Massachusetts  expeditions  attacked  their  missionary 
stations.2  The  Indian  chiefs  sent  messengers  to  Quebec,  in  order  to 
learn  if  France  had  really  surrendered  their  territory.  For  more  than 
a  quarter  of  a  century,  the  venerable  Sebastian  Rasies  a  Jesuit  had 
established  a  mission  at  Norridgewock,  where  he  built  a  church,  and 
gathered  a  flourishing  village  around  it.  The  government  of  Massachu¬ 
setts  attempted  in  turn  to  establish  a  mission  among  the  Indians,  but 
its  minister  failed  to  make  any  impression  on  the  Abenakis,  and  he 
returned  to  Boston.  Some  of  their  native  chiefs  had  been  seized  by 
stratagem  and  imprisoned,  so  that  hostilities  were  resumed  between  the 
Red  Men  and  the  Massachusetts  people.  These  conceived  a  deadly 
hatred  towards  Father  Rasies,  who  was  accused  of  keeping  alive  French, 
influence  in  the  disputed  territory,  and  of  exciting  against  themselves 
hostility  among  the  Indians.  In  January  of  the  year  172" 

Shute  sent  out  a  secret  expedition  from  Boston,  in  order  to  s  tze  I' 
Rasies.3  Norridgewock  was  attacked  by  Colonel  Westb  •'we.  >•> 


1  See  Hutchinson's  “  History  of  the 
Colony  of  Massachusetts- Bay,  from  l(5c8 
to  1750,'’  Vols.  i.  and  ii.  In  1634,  the 
General  Court  of  Massachusetts  Bay 
granted  lands  on  the  Merrimac  River 
for  an  Irish  settlement,  and  there  were 
several  hundred  Irishmen  who  served 
in  King  Philip’s  Indian  War,  whose 
names  are  still  preserved  in  the  colonial 
records. — Annual  meeting  of  the  Ameri-, 
can-Irish  Historical  .Society,  New  York, 


Thursday  evening,  January  19th,  1899. 
Address  of  l)r  Thomas  Addis  Emmet. 

"Major  Church  ravaged  village's  on 
the  Penobscot,  while  Colonel  Hilton 
burned  several  wigwams,  with  a  church, 
and  a  missionary  station.  See  William¬ 
son’s  '‘History  of  Maine,”  Vol.  ii., 
pp.  47  to  49. 

3  See  Penhallow’s  “History  of  tho 
Wars  of  New  England,”  p.  94.  Cincin¬ 
nati  ed.,  Svo. 


EVENTS  IN  NEW  ENGLAND  AND  IN  THE  CAROLINAS. 


93 


several  of  the  inhabitants  were  obliged  to  fly  for  refuge  to  the  woods, 
in  the  autumn  of  that  year.  With  them,  Father  Rasies  made  his  escape, 
but  he  nearly  perished  in  the  snow,  which  at  that  time  covered  the 
ground.  That  place  was  afterwards  plundered,  while  all  the  papers 
of  the  priest  were  purloined  and  carried  off.4  The  manuscript  of  his 
celebrated  Abenakis  dictionary  was  also  seized.3  This  outrage  was 
avenged  by  the  Indians,  who  now  were  excited  to  still  greater  hos¬ 
tilities.  Father  Rasies  reported  their  land  as  lost,  unless  the  French 
should  join  with  the  Indians.  He  induced  many  of  the  latter  to  seek 
Canada  for  protection,  but  he  resolved  on  remaining.  In  July,  the 
government  of  Massachusetts  raised  troops  for  another  expedition,  and 
by  resolution  they  declared  the  Abenakis  to  be  traitors  and  robbers, 
while  they  stimulated  ruffianism  and  savagery,  by  offering  for  each 
Indian  scalp  at  first  a  bounty  of  lifteen  pounds  and  afterwards  of  a 
hundred.  Under  the  leadership  of  Westbrooke,  a  company  marched 
through  the  woods,  to  surprise  one  of  their  stockaded  forts,  probably 
near  the  present  Bangor.  They  arrived  there  at  six  o’clock  in  the 
evening  of  March  9th  1722,  and  set  fire  to  that  village. 

The  Flew  Englanders,  with  the  aid  of  Mohawk  Indians,  had  organized 
another  expedition  under  the  leadership  of  Colonel  Moulton.  On  the 
23rd  of  August  1724,  they  surprised  Norridgewock  by  pouring  a  volley 
of  musketry  into  that  village.  Knowing  he  was  the  principal  object 
sought  for  attack,  Father  Rasies  went  forth  to  meet  the  assailants. 
He  hoped  by  the  sacrifice  of  his  own  life  that  his  converts  might 
escape.  He  was  shot  down  immediately,  and  at  the  foot  of  the  mission 
cross.  After  hacking  his  body  to  pieces,  and  scalping  him,6  the  victors 
rifled  the  altar  tabernacle,  profaned  the  Host  and  sacred  vessels,  and 
then  burned  the  church.  In  this  onset,  thirty  of  the  Indians  were 
killed,  and  several  were  wounded,  the  survivors  seeking  safety  in  flight. 
When  the  English  had  disappeared,  the  Abenakis  returned,  and  finding 
the  remains  of  their  martyr-missionary,  these  were  buried  among  the 
ruins  of  his  church,  and  on  that  very  spot  where  the  altar  formerly 
stood.7  The  village  was  then  abandoned,  many  of  the  former  inhabi¬ 
tants  removing  to  Canada.  This  secured  no  peace  for  the  people  o_ 
New  England ;  for,  after  their  missionary’s  death,  his  controlling 
influence  no  longer  restrained  the  Indian  ravages,  which  seemed  to 
multiply  throughout  all  the  border  settlements.  However,  as  the 
French  could  not  openly  support  the  Indians,  their  chiefs  were  obliged 


<*  Among  these  was  found  a  corre¬ 
spondence  of  Vaudreuil,  which  proved  a 
latent  hope  to  establish  the  power  of 
France  on  the  Atlantic.  See  Bancroft’s 
“  History  of  the  United  States,”  Yol. 
iii.,  chap,  xxiii.,  pp.  333  to  335. 

5  It  is  still  preserved  at  Harvard  Col¬ 
lege. 

6  According  to  Penha  llow’s  account. 
Even  for  scalps  of  women  and  children, 


the  authorities  in  New  i.ngland  were 
not  ashamed  to  offer  rewards  for  their 
friendly  Indians.  Moreover,  white 
men  on  these  expeditions  were  accus¬ 
tomed  to  scalp  the  slain.  See  The  New 
York  Post-Boy,  Sept.  2,  1748,  and  July 
23,  1750 ;  as  also  The  New  York  Mer¬ 
cury,  June  23,  1755. 

7  Such  is  the  account,  as  furnished 
by  the  French  Father  de  le  Chasse. 


94 


I R1SH-AME RICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


to  conclude  a  peace  in  1726. 8  Soon  afterwards,  the  old  French  mis¬ 
sions  in  Maine  began  to  decline;  although  by  stealth,  the  French 
missionaries  occasionally  visited  the  Algonquins,  who  still  retained  the 
faith  in  which  they  had  been  baptized  and  instructed.9 

In  1729,  the  original  vested  rights  of  the  North  Carolina  proprietors 
were  purchased  by  Parliament,  for  the  sum  of  £17,000,  with  £5,000  for 
arrears  of  rent,  and  the  whole  province  was  made  subject  to  the  Crown. 
The  colonists  were  greatly  gratified  b}^  the  entire  remission  of  their  quit- 
rents.  As  they  now  enjoyed  comparative  freedom,  and  were  allowed  the 
practical  exercise  of  self-government,  settlers  were  attracted  from  the  older 
colonies,  and  emigrants  from  Great  Britain  soon  arrived  in  great  numbers. 
Among  these,  Irish  Presbyterians  occupied  whole  sections  of  the  lands; 
while  both  the  family  names  and  denominations  of  the  settlements  indi¬ 
cate  the  localities  in  Ireland,  whence  those  people  came,  even  at  the 
present  time.  Afterwards  were  erected  the  separate  provinces  of  North 
Carolina  and  South  Carolina.  Meantime  the  cultivation  of  rice  had  be¬ 
come  a  staple  product  of  these  regions.  Moreover,  large  importations  of 
negro  slaves  had  been  promoted  by  the  wealthy  farmers,  who  cultivated 
plantations  on  an  extensive  scale,  especially  along  the  sea  coast. 

A  distinguished  English  officer,  named  General  James  Edward 
Oglethorpe,  who  was  also  a  member  in  the  House  of  Commons,  formed 
a  benevolent  design  for  establishing  a  new  colony  in  America.  He  had 
taken  a  great  interest  in  the  reformation  of  prisons,  and  in  improving 
the  condition  of  those  confined  for  debt ;  while  he  desired,  that  a 
favourable  opportunity  should  be  afforded  discharged  prisoners  and 
other  unfortunate  persons,  who  might  find  a  community,  in  which  they 
could  begin  life  once  more  and  under  better  auspices.10  He  also 
intended  to  erect  a  military  barrier  between  the  Spaniards — then  in 
possession  of  Florida — and  the  weak  English  Colonies  in  South  Carolina. 
This  plan  was  approved  of  by  King  George  II.,  and  by  his  government. 
In  the  year  1732,  a  Royal  Charter  was  granted  for  all  that  part  of  the 
old  Carolina  province,  lying  south  of  the  Savannah  River.  Trustees 
were  appointed  to  govern  the  new  Colony,  and  subscriptions  were 
received  all  over  the  kingdom  to  defray  its  expenses.  Accordingly  in 
November  1732,  General  Oglethorpe  sailed  from  England  with  one 
hundred  and  thirty-five  persons.  The  trustees  sent  out  one  hundred 
and  fifty  others;  while,  owing  to  the  efforts  of  some  among  their 
brethren,  forty  Jews  and  seventy-eight  German  Protestants  emigrated. 
In  May  1733,  Savannah  was  founded.  Next  year  a  party  of  Mor¬ 
avians  arrived.  Some  Scottisli  Highlanders  settled  likewise  on  the 
Altamaha.  Except  Papists,  a  free  exercise  of  religion  was  guaranteed 
to  all  others  in  this  Royal  Charter.11  The  colonists  were  obliged  to 


8  See  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
United  States,  Vol  iii.,  chap,  xxiii.,  pp. 
335  to  33S. 

9  See  John  Gihnary  Shea’s  “  Catholic 
Church  in  Colonial  Days,”  Book  vi., 
chap,  ii.,  pp.  592  to  605. 


IIJ  See  Rev.  Dr.  Thaddeus  M.  Harris’s 
“  Biographical  Memoirs  of  James  Ogle¬ 
thorpe,”  published  in  Boston,  1841, 
Svo. 

11  See  Stevens’  “History  of  Georgia,” 
Vol.  i. 


SETTLEMENT  OF  GEORGIA. 


95 


render  military  service.  In  April  1734,  General  Oglethorpe  went  back 
to  England,  and  he  returned  the  year  following  accompanied  by  about 
300  emigrants.12  He  laboured  zealously  to  plant  the  colony,  and  to 
introduce  habits  of  industry  and  civilization. 

In  1740,  England  and  Spain  were  engaged  in  hostilities.  The 
Spaniards,  in  Florida,  claiming  all  that  district,  now  threatened  to 
attack  the  English  plantations  in  Georgia.  It  was  found  necessary  to 
bring  over  six  hundred  regular  soldiers  from  England,  while  General 
Oglethorpe13  also  procured  the  assistance  of  a  large  force  of  friendly 
Indians  for  resistance.  Fearing  that  the  Spaniards  were  preparing  for 
the  invasion  of  his  settlements,  General  Oglethorpe  resolved  to  march 
against  St.  Augustine.  Accordingly,  in  1740  he  raised  a  force  of  two 
thousand  men,  and  afterwards  he  attempted  to  besiege  that  place.14 
But,  he  wanted  cannon  for  the  purpose.  The  approach  of  the  sickly 
season,  moreover,  obliged  his  return  to  Savannah.  As  a  reprisal  for 
this  invasion,  the  Spaniards  invaded  Georgia  in  1742,  and  they  inflicted 
various  losses  among  the  colonists.  However,  they  were  finally  expelled. 
Oglethorpe15  returned  to  England  in  1743. 16  For  nearly  ten  years 
afterwards,  Georgia  was  ruled  by  a  Governor  and  a  Council.  Subse¬ 
quently,  it  became  a  Royal  province.  Notwithstanding  the  reluctance 
of  the  various  provincial  Legislatures,  to  allow  an  extension  of  slavery 
in  America,  yet  it  suited  the  policy  of  England  to  promote  and  main¬ 
tain  that  system,  during  the  seventeenth  and  eighteenth  centuries.17 

In  the  year  1741,  rumours  spread  in  the  City  of  New  York,  that 
the  Negroes  were  about  to  burn  its  houses  and  to  massacre  its 
inhabitants.18  About  the  same  time,  a  letter  was  published  from 
Governor  Oglethorpe  of  Georgia  who  declared,  that  Jesuits  acting 
in  the  interests  of  the  Spaniards  were  hiding  in  all  the  Colonial 
towns.  This  further  increased  that  popular  panic.  The  cry  of  a 


12  Among  these  were  the  celebrated 
brothers,  John  and  Charles  Wesley.  The 
Journal  of  John  Wesley,  included  in  an 
edition  of  his  Works,  edited  by  John 
Emory,  in  seven  volumes,  has  been  pub¬ 
lished  in  New  Y ork,  1 835.  An  Irish  Metho¬ 
dist,  Henry  Moore,  has  written  a  “  Life  of 
John  and  Charles  Wesley  and  Memoirs 
of  their  Family,”  published  in  1824. 

13  He  wrote  an  account  of  this  cam¬ 
paign,  which  was  published  in  London, 
1742. 

14  See  William  Roberts’  “  Accounts 
of  the  First  Discovery  and  Natural 
History  of  Florida,  with  Detail  of  the 
several  Expeditions  and  Descents  made 
on  that  Coast.”  London,  1763,  4to. 
This  work  contains  folding  Maps  and 
Plates  of  Views. 

18  He  wrote  a  “New  and  Accurate 
Account  of  the  Colonies  of  South 
Carolina  and  Georgia.” 


16  See  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
United  States,”  Vol.  iii.,  chap,  xxxiv., 
pp.  418  to  448. 

17  Various  acts  of  the  English  Parlia¬ 
ment,  instigated  by  mercantile  interests, 
jealousy  and  selfishness,  are  quoted  in 
proof  of  this  by  the  American  historian 
Bancroft.  See  Ibid,  pp.  411  to  416. 
This,  too,  is  fully  shown  in  a  political 
tract,  “  The  African  Slave  Trade,  the 
great  Pillar  and  Support  of  the  British 
Plantation  Trade  in  America,”  by 
a  British  Merchant,  published  in 
1745. 

18  For  this  supposed  plot,  a  white 
man  named  Hughson,  and  Peggy  Carey 
his  wife,  had  been  tried  as  being  the 
originators.  They  were  ordered  for 
execution,  and  on  false  testimony.  See 
John  Gilmary  Shea’s  “  Catholic  Church 
in  Colonial  Days,”  Book  iv.,  chap,  ii., 
p.  399. 


96  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Popish  plot  being  again  raised,  anti-Catholic  feeling  was  greatly 
excited.  Money  rewards  and  a  full  pardon  were  offered  to  all  who 
should  become  informers.  A  great  number  of  the  Negroes  were 
arrested  on  mere  suspicion,  and  of  that  number,  no  less  than  eighteen 
were  hanged,  eleven  were  burned  at  the  stake,  and  fifty  were  trans¬ 
ported  to  the  West  Indies.  The  terrified  slaves  beg  in  to  tell  the  most 
extraordinary  and  terrible  stories,  to  save  themselves  from  popular 
vengeance.  An  unfortunate  nonjuring  episcopal  clergyman  and  a 
Protestant,  named  Rev.  John  Ury,19  was  arrested  on  suspicion  of  his 
being  a  priest.20  He  was  charged  by  a  woman  of  infamous  character, 
and  by  unprincipled  witnesses,  with  being  an  accomplice  in  that 
imagined  conspiracy.21  After  a  mock  trial,  he  was  found  guilty  by  the 
jury  and  hanged,  August  15th  1741. 

In  the  midsummer  of  1718,  when  Bienville  had  descended  the 
Mississippi,  he  selected  a  site  for  the  capital  of  Louisiana,  and  on  the 
25th  of  August,  eight  hundred  emigrants  arrived  from  France  in  three 
vessels.  Among  them  were  eighty  convicts.  These  all  disembarked  at 
Dauphine  Island.  A  city  was  founded  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the 
Mississippi,  and  it  was  called  New  Orleans,  in  honour  of  the  regent  of 
France.  Its  inhabitants  were  recruited  with  hardy  emigrants  from 
Canada.  The  vastness  and  prosperity  of  that  city,  destined  to  become 
the  outlet  and  an  emporium  of  the  greatest  valley  in  the  world,  were 
predicted  soon  after  its  early  settlement.22 

War  broke  out  between  France  and  Spain  in  the  year  1719, 23  and 
its  evil  influences  were  unhappily  communicated  to  the  American 
colonists  of  the  rival  nations.24  In  1720,  the  Spanish  government 
determined  to  take  the  whole  of  Louisiana  from  under  the  control  of  the 
French.  In  order  to  accomplish  this  object,  they  thought  it  necessary 
to  destroy  the  nation  of  the  Missouris,  then  situated  on  the  Missouri 
River.  These  Indians  were  in  alliance  with  the  French,  and  espoused 
their  interests.  The  Spanish  plan  was  to  excite  the  Osages  to  wage 
war  with  the  Missouris,  and  then  to  take  part  in  the  contest.  For 
this  purpose,  an  invading  expedition  was  fitted  out  from  Santa  Fe  for 
the  Missouri,  in  1720. 25  It  was  a  moving  caravan  of  the  desert — 


19  He  was  known  to  all  his  friends,  as 
being  a  very  inoffensive  man,  who  lived 
by  teaching. 

29  A  digest  of  the  proceedings  may  be 
found  in  Chandler’s  “American  Crimi¬ 
nal  Trials,”  Vol.  i.,  p.  222.  Boston, 
1844,  8vo. 

21  Judge  Horsmar.den  charged  viol¬ 
ently  against  him.  Afterwards,  this 
same  judge  wrote  a  prejudiced  account 
of  those  horrible  transactions  in  a  work, 
entitled  “  The  New  York  Conspiracy, 
or  a  History  of  the  Negro  Plot.”  Pub¬ 
lished  at  New  York,  in  1744. 

22  See  Pierre  Francois  Xavier  de 


Charlevoix’s  admirable  w'ork,  published 
in  1744:  “Histoiie  de  la  Nouvelle 
France,”  Tome  iii. ,  pp.  430,  440.  John 
Gilmary  Shea  has  translated  it  into 
English,  in  six  vwls.,  published  at  New 
York,  I860  to  1872,  8vo. 

23  See  L.  P.  Anquetil’s  11  Histoire  de 
France,”  Troisieme  Race,  dite  des 
Capetiens,  1717  to  1719. 

24  See  Le  Page  du  Pratz’s  “  Histoire 
de  la  Louisiane,”  Tome  i. 

25 See  Nathan  H.  Parker  “Missouri 
as  it  is  in  1867  ■  an  Illustrated  Histori¬ 
cal  Gazetteer  of  Missouri,”  &c.,  p.  44. 
Philadelphia,  1867,  8vo. 


FRENCH  AND  SPANISH  HOSTILITIES  IN  THE  WEST.  i)7 

armed  men,  with  women,  and  whole  families,  were  in  motion.  Horses 
and  mules,  with  herds  of  cattle  and  swine  to  serve  for  food  or  carriage 
on  the  route,  were  taken  along  to  aid  in  establishing  a  new  colony. 

On  their  march,  the  Spaniards  lost  their  proper  route,  and  their 
guides  became  bewildered.  These  led  them  to  the  Missouri  tribes 
instead  of  towards  the  Osages.  Unconscious  of  their  mistake,  as  both 
tribes  spoke  the  same  language,  they  believed  themselves  among  the 
Osages,  instead  of  being  with  their  enemies.  Without  reserve,  they  dis¬ 
closed  their  designs  against  the  Missouris,  and  supplied  them  with  arms 
and  ammunition,  to  aid  in  their  own  extermination.  The  Missouri 
great  chief,  concealing  his  real  thoughts  and  intentions,  evinced  the 
greatest  joy.  He  promised,  when  they  should  have  rested  three  days 
after  their  march,  to  join  the  expedition  with  them.  In  the  meantime, 
the  chief  engaged  to  assemble  his  warriors  and  to  hold  a  council  with 
the  old  men  of  their  tribe.  Just  before  the  dawn  of  that  day  upon 
which  the  company  had  arranged  to  march,  the  Missouri’s  fell  upon  their 
treacherous  enemies,  and  despatched  them  with  indiscriminate 
slaughter.  However,  they  spared  a  priest,  whose  dress  convinced  them 
he  was  a  man  of  p^ace  rather  than  a  warrior.  They  kept  him  for  some 
time,  as  a  prisoner  ;  but  he  finally  made  his  escape.  He  was  the  only 
messenger  to  bear  back  intelligence  to  the  Spanish  authorities,  regard¬ 
ing  the  just  return  upon  their  own  heads  of  a  treachery  they  had 
intended  to  practise  upon  others.  26  To  arrest  any  further  attempt  of 
the  Spaniards  from  advancing  into  Upper  Louisiana,  a  French  post 
was  designed  for  the  Missouri.  To  make  all  necessary  arrangements, 
M,  Burgmont  was  despatched  from  Mobile  to  the  Missouri  River.  He 
took  possession  of  an  island  in  the  river,  above  the  mouth  of  the  Osage. 
Upon  this  island,  he  built  a  fort,  which  he  named  Fort  Orleans. 

Meanwhile,  war  between  the  French  and  Spaniards  continued.  Those 
Indians  who  had  been  leagued  with  the  respective  colonies — Louisiana 
and  Florida — carried  on  their  marauding  excursions.  The  usual 
atrocities  of  savages  in  war  attended  this  evil  state  of  things.  About 
the  same  time,  Fort  Chartres  was  constructed  by  M.  Boisbriant  on  the 
Mississippi,  under  the  instructions  of  the  king.  A  fort  and  trading- 
post  for  the  Company  were  erected  at  the  mouth  of  Blue  Earth  River, 
on  the  St.  Peter’s,  by  Lesueur.  He  was  accompanied  by  a  detachment 
of  ninety  men,  to  conduct  this  enterprise.  On  his  arrival  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Osage,  Burgmont  found  the  different  tribes  engaged  in  a  sanguinary 
warfare.  This  prostrated  all  trade,  and  rendered  all  intercourse  with  the 
Indians  extremely  hazardous.  The  treaty  of  London,  signed  on  the 
17th  of  February  1720,  at  last  ended  this  war.  27 

In  the  meantime,  Fort  Orleans  had  been  completed  and  occupied. 
The  fur  trade  now  engaged  the  attention  of  the  French,  as  the  search 
for  precious  metals  was  found  to  be  so  delusive.  Their  success  was 

-6  See  Monette’s  “  History  of  the  France,”  Tome  xv.  Septi^me  Partie. 

Mississippi  Valley,”  Vol.  i.,  chap  vi.  Liv.  xciii.  Paris  1862,  Fourth  edition, 

27  See  Henri  Martin’s  “  Histoire  de  8vo. 

G 


98  IRISH -AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

more  assured  in  that  profitable  branch  of  trade.  Soon  after  the 
declaration  of  peace  between  contending  tribes  of  Indians,  Fort 
Orleans  was  attacked  and  totally  destroyed.  All  the  French  occupants 
were  massacred.  Nor  is  it  yet  known  by  whom  this  bloody  work  had 
been  perpetrated.  Burgmont  had  now  turned  his  attention  towards 
effecting  a  reconciliation  with  the  Indians.  This  he  happily  accomplished 
in  A  7 24 .  The  French  seem  to  have  been  fated  for  disappointment  and 
disaster  in  America,  during  the  early  part  of  the  seventeenth  century. 
Their  troubles  with  the  Indians  increased  ;  the  Bank  of  France,  under 
John  Law’s  direction28  and  which  promised  so  fairly,  had  proved  worse 
than  a  bubble:22  several  of  their  expeditions  had  resulted  in  the  loss  of 
large  numbers  of  valiant  and  learned  men,  valuable  treasure  and  live¬ 
stock.  At  length,  in  view  of  those  disasters  experienced,  the  Directory 
then  determined  to  surrender  their  charter  into  the  hands  of  the 
Crown.31  Disccuraged  and  disappointed,  they  resolved  on  retiring  from 
the  American  wilderness,  where  failure  only  had  attended  their  efforts. 
Their  petition  was  readily  granted,  and  by  proclamation,  dated  April 
10  1732, 31  the  king  declared  the  Province  of  Louisiana  free  to  all  hia 
subjects,  with  equal  privileges  for  trade  and  commerce. 

The  Colonial  Assemblies  appropriated  large  sums  for  bounties,  to 
such  industrious  poor  people  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  as  should 
resort  to  their  provinces,  within  a  specified  short  term  of  years,  and  who 
should  settle  on  the  inland  tracts.  For  the  colonization  of  South  Caro¬ 
lina  special  inducements  were  held  out.32  In  a  district,  called  from  its 
Indian  proprietors  the  Waxh&ws,  there  was  a  considerable  Irish 
colony,33  chiefly  at  Williamsburg,  and  established  from  1734  to  1737 
In  like  manner,  Camden  on  the  Wateree  River  was  peopled  about  the 
same  time  by  Irish.34  Scarcely  a  ship  sailed  from  any  of  our  ports  for 
Charleston,  that  was  not  crowded  with  men,  women,  and  children. 
Those  lands  were  to  be  divided  among  emigrants,  allowing  one  hundred 
acres  for  each  man,  and  fifty  for  every  woman  and  child,  that  should 
come  and  settle  in  the  backwoods.  In  the  northern  counties  of  Ireland, 
the  spirit  of  emigration  seized  on  the  people  to  such  a  degree,  that  it 


38  Having  quitted  France  in  December 
1720,  he  died  in  poverty,  at  Venice,  in 
1729.  See  John  Philip  Wood’s  “Me¬ 
moirs  of  the  Life  of  John  Law.”  Edin¬ 
burgh,  1824. 

28  An  account  of  Law  and  his  financial 
schemes  may  be  seen  in  “  Memoires 
complats  et  authentiques  du  Due  Saint- 
Simon  sur  le  Si£cle  de  Louis  XIV.  et  la 
Regence,"  collationn^s  sur  le  Manuscrit 
original  par  M.  Choruel  et  precedes  d’une 
Notice  par  M.  Sainte-Beuve  de  l'Acade- 
mie  Frangaise.  Tome  xvii.,  Paris,  1856 
to  1898,  8vo. 

30  See  Henri  Martin’s  “  Uistoiro  de 
F-ance,”  Tomexv.,  Septi8me  Partie,  Liv. 
xeii. 


31  See  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
United  States,"  Vol.  iii.,  chap,  xxiii.  p. 
364. 

32  Two  townships,  each  containing- 
48,000  acres,  were  laid  out ;  one  of  these 
was  on  the  River  Savannah,  called  Meck¬ 
lenburg,  while  the  other  was  on  the 
waters  of  Santee,  at  Long  Caines,  and  it 
was  called  Londonderry. 

33  Among  these  settlers,  at  one  time  or 
other,  were  the  Routledges,  Jacksons, 
Calhouns — names  now  famous  in  United 
States  History. 

34  See  Thomas  D’Arcy  M'Gee’s  “His¬ 
tory  of  the  Irish  Settlers  in  America, 
chap,  ii.,  p.  26.  Boston,  sixth  edition, 
1859,  8vo. 


IRISH  COLONIZATION  IN  THE  EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY. 


99 


threatened  almost  a  total  depopulation.  Such  multitudes  of  husbandmen, 
labourers  and  manufacturers  flocked  over  the  Atlantic,  that  the  land¬ 
lords  began  to  be  alarmed,  and  to  concert  ways  and  means  for  prevent¬ 
ing  the  growing  evil.35  Many  persons  likewise  from  England  and 
Scotland  resorted  to  Carolina,  especially  after  the  peace  between  France 
and  England. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century,  great  numbers  of  Irish 
began  to  arrive  at  Philadelphia  with  other  emigrants.  In  one  year,  ending 
December  17 29, 36  came  5,655  Irish,  and  343  Palatines,  none  of  whom 
were  servants ;  together  with  267  English  and  Welsh,  and  43  Scotch. 3r 
Numerous  servants  used  to  arrive  every  year  from  Germany  and  Ireland,, 
who  engaged  themselves  for  a  term  of  years  to  pay  their  passages.  Some 
of  them  turned  out  to  be  frugal  and  industrious,  and  these  became  in 
time  a  part  of  the  wealthy  citizens-38  In  some  few  cases  they  appear  to 
have  been  convicts  from  Ireland.39  The  Annesley  Peerage  Case,  so 
celebrated  in  Irish  history  and  romance,  gave  to  America  about  this 
period  the  victim  of  a  foul  conspiracy.40  From  the  latter  end  of  the 
seventeenth  century  to  about  the  year  1719,  a  considerable  number  of 
Irish  emigrants  arrived  in  Pennsylvania.  Many  of  these  began  to  settle 
at  or  near  the  Maryland  disputed  line.41  Among  the  Irish  Pennsylva¬ 
nian  settlers  were  the  Henrys,  M'Kennans,  Bryans,  Musgraves,  Porters, 
Rushes,  Fitzsimons,  Alexanders,42  Ramseys,  Neills,  Bradys,  Findlays, 
Plains,  Rosses,  Hands,  Armstrongs,  Morrows,  Stewarts,  Taylors,. 


®  See  Ramsey’s  “  History  of  South 
Carolina.”  London,  1779. 

36  See  Holmes’  “  Annals  of  America,” 
Vol.  i. 

37  See  John  Fanning  Watson’s  “  An¬ 
nals  of  Fhilada  .  hia.”  This  work  was 
first  publisher  in  Philadelphia,  1830,  in 
8  /o.  It  weiiL  through  several  succes¬ 
sive  editions. 

38  “  Among  the  number  was  Matthew 
Lyon,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  was 
assigned  on  his  arrival  in  New  York  to 
Jacob  Bacon  of  Woodbury,  who  brought 
him  home;  and,  after  enjoying  his  ser¬ 
vices  for  some  time,  he  assigned  him  for 
the  remainder  of  his  term  of  service  to 
Hugh  Hannah  of  Lichfield,  for  a  pair  of 
stags,  valued  at  £12.  By  dint  of  ster¬ 
ling  native  talent,  under  the  most  dis¬ 
heartening  circumstances,  he  fought 
his  way  to  fame  and  eminence,  and  he 
was  afterwards  a  member  of  Congress 
from  Vermont,  as  also  from  Kentucky.” 
— Cothren’s  ‘  ‘  History  of  Ancient  Wood¬ 
bury,”  Vol.  ii.,  p.  320. 

39  “  The  severity  of  British  lawpushed 
off  young  men  of  good  abilities  for  very 
small  offences,  who  made  good  clerks, 


storekeepers,  etc.,  among  us.  I  have 
knowledge  of  some  among  us,  even 
within  my  own  memory,  who  rose  to- 
riches  and  credit  here,  and  left  fine 
families.  One  great  man  had,  before 
my  time,  been  sold  in  Maryland  as  an 
offender  from  Ireland.  He  then  came 
to  Philadelphia  and  amassed  a  large 
fortune  in  landed  estates  now  of  great 
value  among  his  heirs.” — Ibid. 

40  Afterwards  appeared  “  Memoirs  of 
an  unfortunate  young  Nobleman  re¬ 
turned  from  a  thirteen  years’  Slavery 
in  America,”  1743,  12mo.  His  adven¬ 
tures  furnished  the  subject  matter  for 
Sir  Walter  Scott’s  celebrated  novel, 
“Guy  Mannering.” 

41  These  colonizers  were  understood 
to  be  exempt  from  rents  by  an  ordi¬ 
nance  of  1720,  in  consideration  of  their 
being  a  frontier  people,  and  of  form¬ 
ing  a  cordon  for  defence  against  the 
Indians,  if  their  services  were  so  re¬ 
quired. 

42  Of  this  family  was  the  celebrated 
Presbyterian  minister,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Archibald  Alexander,  born,  however, 
in  Virginia,  1772. 


100  IIUSH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


Hoeys,  Smiths,  Smilies,  and  Thompsons.  From  the  County  of 
Kilkenny,  and  said  to  have  been  of  the  Ormond  family,  towards  the 
close  of  the  seventeenth  century,  a  Butler  went  out  to  America  as 
agent  for  Indian  affairs  in  Pennsylvania.  Attracted  probably  by  his 
example  or  advice,  other  cadets  of  the  Ormond  stock  settled  in 
Carolina  and  Kentucky.  From  their  descendants  many  celebrated 
generals  and  senators  have  been  furnished  to  the  Union.43  In  Lancas¬ 
ter  County,  Pennsylvania,  a  settlement  of  Donegal  men  was  formed 
about  or  a  little  after  this  period.  The  townships  of  Donegal,  Derry, 
Raplioe,  Tyrone,  Coleraine  and  Mount  joy,  were  established  there,  and 
these  places  were  thus  named  after  Irish  localities  by  the  early  immi¬ 
grants.  In  Chester  County,  Irish  settlements  were  likewise  formed,44 
and  among  the  emigrants  was  William  M‘Kean,  in  the  beginning  of  the 
last  century.45  The  Rev.  Francis  Allison,46  a  native  of  the  County  of 
Donegal,  Ireland,  emigrated  to  America  in  1735,  and  being  a  celebrated 
scholar,  he  opened  an  academy  of  distinguished  reputation  at  New 
London,  Pennsylvania.  Here  he  was  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
In  1752  he  opened  an  academy  in  Philadelphia,47  where  he  became 
minister  of  the  first  Presbyterian  church  built  in  that  city.  Before  the 
establishment  of  American  Independence,  Pennsylvania  College  had 
been  founded,  and  in  1755,  Dr.  Allison  was  appointed  to  the  chair  of 
Moral  Philosophy,  while  he  became  also  vice-president.48  His  pupil  and 
countryman  was  Charles  Thomson.49  Other  celebrated  men,  connected 
with  the  revolution,  were  taught  by  him.50 

An  Irishman  named  James  O’Hara  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
Pittsburg.51  Afterwards,  he  became  a  Quartermaster-General  under 
the  military  direction  of  General  Wayne.  Another  colonist  Patrick 
Calhoun  was  born  in  Donegal,  Ireland,  and  in  the  earlier  part  of  the 
eighteenth  century.  He  and  members  of  his  family  were  chased  from 
their  native  country  by  reverse  of  fortune.  They  emigrated  first  to 
Pennsylvania,  where  they  remained  some  years.  Afterwards,  they  went  to 


4S  Among  these  were  General  William 
O.  Butler  of  Kentucky,  and  Pierce 
Butler,  Senator  for  South  Carolina.  See 
Thomas  D’Arcy  M ‘Gee’s  “  History  of 
the  Irish  Settlers  in  North  America,” 
chap,  ii.,  p.  32. 

44  To  this  place,  the  parents  of  the 
celebrated  Irish  -  American  General 
Anthony  Wayne  had  emigrated.  Here 
he  was  born  in  1745.  See  an  account 
of  him  in  “Irish  Celts,”  by  a  Member 
of  the  Michigan  Bar,  sub  voce  Wayne, 
General  Anthony.  Detroit,  1884,  8vo. 

45  There  his  distinguished  son  Thomas 
— afterwards  signer  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  and  President  of  Con¬ 
gress — was  born,  on  the  19th  of  March, 
1734. 

46  He  was  born  in  1705. 


47  On  May  24th  1758,  he  delivered  a 
celebrated  sermon,  entitled:  “Peace 
and  Unity  recommended.”  He  died 
November  28th,  1779,  in  Philadelphia. 
See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of  Ameri¬ 
can  Biography,”  Vol.  i.,  p.  49. 

4S  See  Thomas  D’Arcy  M'Gee’s  “  His¬ 
tory  of  the  Irish  Settlers  in  North 
America,”  chap,  xi.,  p.  81. 

49  See  an  account  of  him  in  “Irish 
Celts,”  by  a  Member  of  the  Michigan 
Bar,  sub  voce  Thomson,  Charles,  LL.D. 

50  He  is  often  alluded  to  as  their  Master. 

81  See  Rev.  A.  A.  Lambing’s  “  His¬ 
tory  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  the  Dio¬ 
cese  of  Pittsburg  and  Allegeny,  from  its 
Establishment  to  the  present  Time.” 
New  York,  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis, 
Benziger  Brothers,  8vo. 


IRISH  COLONIZATION  IN  THE  EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY.  101 


the  western  part  of  Virginia.  Thence  they  were  driven  by  the  Indians, 
after  Braddock’s  defeat.  Patrick  Calhoun  married  an  Irish-American 
girl,  a  daughter  of  Major  John  Caldwell,52  of  Charlotte  county,  Virginia. 
They  removed  finally  to  South  Carolina  in  1756  when  Patrick 
settled  in  Abbey ville  district.53  In  1724,  the  Pennsylvania  Governor 
James  Logan  complains,54  that  the  Irish  were  bold  strangers,  and 
that  they  rarely  approached  him  to  propose  purchasing  their  lands.55 
Thus,  one  hundred  thousand  acres  had  been  possessed  by  persons,55 
who  resolutely  set  down  and  improved  them.57  The  Irish  Parliament 
was  then  about  to  take  measures  for  preventing  the  free  and  excessive 
emigration  of  their  people  to  the  American  colonies.58  The  Assembly 
had  laid  a  restraining  tax  of  twenty  shillings  &  head  for  every  servant 
arriving ;  but,  even  this  law  was  evaded.59  The  common  fear  was, 
that  if  they  thus  continued  to  come,  they  should  make  themselves 
proprietors  of  that  whole  Province.60  The.  Indians  themselves 
were  alarmed  at  those  swarms  of  strangers,  while  the  older  settlers  were 
afraid  of  a  breach  between  them  and  the  newly  arrived  colonizers. 

In  New  Jersey  were  the  Martins,  the  Tennents  and  Maxwells,  with 
many  others  of  Irish  birth  and  descent.  In  Delaware  were  noted  the 
Killens,  the  M ‘Lanes,  the  Kearneys,  and  several  other  Irish  settlers. 
Among  the  early  colonists  in  Maryland  of  Irish  birth,  besides  the 
Pollocks  and  Carrolls,  were  the  Pattersons,61  Reads,  Nelsons,  Foleys, 
Milligans,  Semmes,  M‘Henrys,  as  also  the  Barneys.62 

For  the  Northern  Presbyterian  Irish,  the  colonies  of  New  England 
had  a  special  attraction,  because  Presbyterianism  was  there  the  prevailing 
form  of  worship.  So  early  as  1636,  the  “Eagle  Wing,”  with  150  pas- 


52  This  Major  Caldwell  was  after¬ 
wards  murdered  by  the  Tories,  in  cold 
blood  and  in  his  own  yard,  after  they 
had  destroyed  his  house  by  fire.  He 
served  in  the  Legislature  of  South  Caro¬ 
lina  for  thirtj’  years.  See  “Life  of 
John  C.  Calhoun.” 

53  It  was  there  his  son,  John  Caldwell 
Calhoun,  afterwards  distinguished  as 
the  pro-slavery  champion  of  the  South, 
was  born  March  18th  1782.  His  auto¬ 
biography  has  been  set  forth  in  a  work 
intituled  :  “  The  Science  of  Govern¬ 
ment.”  New  York,  1851. 

54  In  a  letter  to  the  Proprietors. 

55  When  challenged  for  titles,  they 
alleged  as  their  excuse,  that  the  pro¬ 
prietors  had  solicited  for  colonists,  and 
that  they  had  come  accordingly  to 
supply  the  want. 

56  The  Governor  complains,  that  these 
had  not  any  right  to  the  lands  on  which 
they  settled,  but  that  he  was  much  at  a 
loss  to  determine  how  to  dispossess 
them. 


57  Letter  of  James  Logan  to  the  Pro¬ 
prietors,  written  1725. 

58  Letter  from  James  Logan,  written 

in  1725.  ' 

59  This  was  instanced,  in  the  case  of  a 
ship  arriving  from  Dublin  with  one 
hundred  Papists,  and  by  the  captain 
contriving  to  land  them  at  Burlington. 

60  “  It  looks,”  says  Logan,  “  as  if  Ire¬ 
land  was  to  send  all  its  inhabitants 
thither,  for  last  week  not  less  than  six 
ships  arrived.”  Almost  every  week,  two 
or  three  vessels  came  into  port. 

61  Of  this  family  was  the  beautiful 
Miss  Elizabeth  Patterson,  afterwards 
wife  of  Jerome  Bonaparte,  and  unjustly 
divorced  from  him  by  the  Emperor 
Napoleon,  for  reasons  of  State  policy. 
She  was  a  friend  and  a  correspondent  of 
Lady  Morgan. 

62  From  the.se  descended  the  distin¬ 
guished  Commodore  Joshua  Barney, 
born  in  Baltimore,  in  1759.  See  an 
account  of  him  In  “  Irish  Celts,”  by  a 
Member  of  the  Michigan  Bar,  sub  voce, 
Barney,  Joshua,  Comtuolrra, 


102  IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 


sengers  on  board,  sailed  from  Carrickfergus,  to  found  a  colony  on  the 
Merrimack.  Through  stress  of  weather,  their  vessel  was  obliged  to  put 
back,  and  for  many  years  the  project  was  abandoned.  It  was  revived 
towards  the  end  of  that  century,  and  in  the  spring  of  1719,  the  London¬ 
derry  settlement  was  formed.  It  was  so  called  because  the  immigrants, 
at  first  only  sixteen  families,  gave  the  name  of  their  native  home  to 
their  new  abode.  They  were  all  Presbyterians  in  religion,  and  they  be¬ 
came  prosperous,  while  their  descendants  spread  over  Windham,  Chester, 
Litchfield,  Manchester,  Bedford,  Goffstown,  New  Boston,  Antrim,  Peter¬ 
borough  and  Ack worth,  in  New  Hampshire,  and  Barnet,  in  Vermont.63 
Those  were  also  the  first  settlers  of  many  towns  in  Massachusetts,  in 
Maine,  and  in  Nova  Scotia.64  Cherry  Valley  in  New  York  was  in  part 
peopled  from  Londonderry.65  Some  Irish  families  settled  at  an  early 
date  in  Palmer  and  Worcester,06  Massachusetts.  About  1717,  the 
Thorntons  came  to  the  latter  place  67  One  of  the  earliest  settlers  at 
Plymouth  was  a  founder  of  the  Higgins  family,  now  so  numerous  in 
New  England ;  while  the  first  deed  of  record  in  Hampden  County, 
Mass.,  is  an  Indian  transfer  of  land  to  one  Reilly.  The  name  of  Ireland 
Parish,  under  Mount  Holyoke,  still  shows  the  place  of  their  settlement. 
At  Wellfleet  and  Cape  Cod  were  some  immigrants  from  the  County  of 
Longford.  The  Jacksons,  who  emigrated  to  this  State  from  Ireland, 
produced  some  able  and  distinguished  representatives.  Attempts  were 
made  by  the  Courts  in  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts  to  drive  off  many 
of  the  Irish  settlers  in  1720,  and  law  proceedings  were  threatened 
against  them  “unless  they  moved  off  within  the  space  of  seven  months;” 
but_  they  would  not  leave,  nor  does  it  appear  that  the  threatened 
prosecution  of  the  Attorney-General  followed.  Forty  gentlemen,  mer¬ 
chants  and  others  of  the  Irish  nation,  residing  in  Boston  1737,  formed 
a  Charitable  Society  68  for  the  relief  of  their  indigent  and  poor  country¬ 
men.  It  was  declared,  however,  that  none  but  Protestants  were 


63  See  “Catholic  Memoirs  of  Vermont 
and  New  Hampshire,”  New  York.  12mo. 

64  Bars  tow,  who  relates  the  foregoing 
particulars,  declares  that  to  the  number 
of  20,000,  the  descendants  of  those 
Londonderry  settlers  were  scattered  over 
all  the  United  States.  See  his  work, 
“New  Hampshire,”  p.  130. 

65  See  M'Kenzie’s  “  Remarkable  Irish¬ 
men,”  Part  i. 

66  On  a  tombstone  here  were  the  names 
of  John  Young,  a  native  of  Derry,  who 
died  in  1730,  aged  107 ;  as  also  oi  David 
YToung,  a  native  of  Donegal,  who  died 
in  1776,  aged  94  years. 

67  Their  celebrated  son,  Matthew 
Thornton, was  born  in  Ireland  17l4,and 
when  only  three  years  old  with  his 


parents  he  arrived  in  America.  See 
“Irish  Celts,”  by  a  member  of  the 
Michigan  Bar.  There  is  no  pagination 
to  this  valuable  work,  so  that  reference 
can  only  be  to  the  proper  names  placed 
in  alphabetical  order. 

88  The  names  of  the  following  have 
been  preserved  as  original  members  : — 
Robert  Duncan,  Andrew  Knox,  Natha¬ 
niel  Walsh,  Joseph  St.  Laurence,  Daniel 
M'Fall,  William  Drummond,  William 
Freeland,  Daniel  Gibbs,  John  Noble, 
Adam  Boyd,  William  Stewart,  Daniel 
Neal,  James  Maynes,  Samuel  Moor, 
Philip  Mortimer,  James  Egart,  George 
Glen,  Peter  Pelham,  John  Little,  Archi¬ 
bald  Thomas,*  Edward  Alderchurch, 
James  Clark,  John  Clark,  Thomas 
Bennett  and  Patrick  Walker.  William 
Hal!  was  the  first  president. 


IRISH  COLONIZATION  IN  THE  EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY.  103 

eligible  to  its  offices  and  committees.69  James  Kasson,  with  his  father 
and  six  brothers,  came  from  Belfast,  Ireland,  in  1722,  landed  at 
Boston,  and  settled  in  Voluntown,  Connecticut.  He  removed  to 
Woodbury  about  1742.'°  Their  descendants  are  still  numerous,  and 
they  are  found  in  almost  every  State  throughout  the  Union.71  At 
Saybrooke,  Connecticut,  were  some  immigrants  from  the  County  of 
Longford.  In  New  Hampshire,  the  Irish  contingent  of  settlers  was 
especially  strong,  and  the  names  of  many  are  still  preserved.72  The 
Starks,  the  Butlers,  the  Whipples,  the  Sullivans  and  Thorntons,  who 
were  early  residents  of  this  State,  had  all  Irish  blood  in  their  veins,  and 
they  had  all  Irish  characteristics.73  An  early  Irish  settler  there  was 
John  Callamore.74  The  Gilmans,  the  Casses,  and  the  Norrises,  with 
several  others,  were  of  Irish  birth  and  origin.  By  the  coming  of  Irish 
emigrants  into  New  Hampshire,  in  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  the  linen  manufacture  was  considerably  increased  within  that 
colony.75  In  January  1729,  the  celebrated  metaphysical  philosopher 
George  Berkley,  born  at  Kilcrin,76  county  of  Kilkenny,  with  his  wife 
and  many  other  companions,  arrived  at  Newport,  Rhode  Island,  after  a 
long  and  stormy  voyage.77  There  he  was  kept  waiting  during  three 
years,  for  money  voted  him  by  Parliament ;  but  he  employed  his  time 
by  taking  a  farm  near  Newport,  where  Whitehall,  the  house  he 
inhabited,  still  stands.  His  favourite  place  for  reading  was  among 
those  rocks  that  project  over  the  deep  waters  of  Narraganset  Bay. 
On  returning  to  Ireland  in  1732,  he  bequeathed  his  farm  to  Yale 
College,  then  in  its  infancy.  He  presented  it  likewise,  with  “  the 
finest  collection  of  books  that  ever  came  at  one  time  to  America.”  73 


69  According  to  the  Eighth  Article  of 
the  Constitution.  See  Thomas  D’Arey 
M  Gee’s  “  History  of  the  Irish  Settlers 
in  North  America,”  Chap,  iii.,  pp.  33  to 
37. 

70  He  settled  near  the  present  line 
of  Southbury,  built  a  house  in  Bethle¬ 
hem  Society,  in  1760,  and  removed  his 
family  the  same  year.  There  he  con¬ 
tinued  to  reside  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  February  5th,  1791. 

71  See  “  History  of  Ancient  Wood¬ 
bury,”  p.  603. 

72  In  the  “Historical  Collections  of 
New  Hampshire,”  Vol.  i. 

73  See  Carleton’s  “New  Hampshire 
Worthies.”  We  are  informed  by  an 
illustrious  descendant,  that  the  Ulster 
Irish  largely  colonised  the  province, 
naming  their  towns  Derry.  London¬ 
derry,  Antrim,  Hillsboro’,  &c.  At  home 
they"  were  men  in  position  and  of  fine 
physical  organization,  many  living  to  a 
ripe  old  age.  See  “Autobiography 
and  Personal  Reminiscences  of  Major- 


General  Benjamin  F.  Butler,"  Chap,  i., 
Boston,  1  892. 

74  He  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1715,  and 
he  died  at  Kersington,  N.H.,  in  1825. 

75  See  Rev.  J.  A.  Spencer’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  i. 

76  In  1684.  He  was  at  first  educated 
in  the  College  of  Kilkenny,  and  after¬ 
wards  lie  entered  Trinity  College,  Dublin. 
He  became  Dean  of  Derry  in  1724, 
through  the  influence  of  the  Irish  Lord 
Lieutenant.  He  was  appointed  Bishop 
of  Clovne  in  1734,  two  years  after  his 
return  from  America.  He  was  the  friend 
of  Steele,  Swift  and  Pope.  His  works 
collected  by  himself  were  published  in 
1752.  He  died  the  following  year,  at 
Oxford,  in  England. 

77  His  leading  idea  at  this  time  was 
to  establish  a  college  at  Bermuda,  for 
the  purpose  of  training  missionaries  for 
the  conversion  to  Christianity  of  the 
North  American  Indians. 

78  See  Baldwin’s  “  Annals  of  Yale 
College,”  p.  417. 


104  miSIl-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Among  his  friends  and  co-labourers  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  James  M'Sparran,79 
who  settled  in  Narrairanset.  The  Irish  establishment  of  Belfast  in 
Maine  was  commenced  by  a  few  families  in  1723.  Among  these  was 
a  Limerick  schoolmaster  named  John  Sullivan,  and  on  his  outward 
voyage,  he  courted  a  female  passenger,  a  native  of  Cork.  To  her  he 
was  married,  some  time  after  their  arrival  in  America.  They  had  two 
sons,  John80  and  James,81  who  won  great  distinction  in  after  times ; 
while  both  father  and  mother  lived  to  see  them  at  the  summit  of  civil 
and  military  authority.82  In  this  settlement,  likewise,  were  Irish 
people  named  Harper,83  MTntire  and  Murray. 

The  Irish  furnished  to  the  Carolinas  and  Georgia,  before  the  middle 
of  the  eighteenth  century,  a  considerable  population,  and  the  majority 
of  their  immigrants.  Among  these,  Dr.  John  Rutledge  was  a  native 
of  Ireland,  whence  he  emigrated  to  South  Carolina  in  1735,  and 
settled  in  Charleston.84  The  Irish  families  of  Hayne,  Hamilton, 
Conway,  Martin.  Matthews,  Pickens,  Calhoun,  Caldwell,  Noble, 
Brenton,  Murphy,  M'Call,  Miller  and  Manning  were  at  an  early 
period  of  the  last  century  in  this  State.  In  North  Carolina  were 
settled  the  Giles,  the  Davidsons,  the  Caldwells,  the  Polks,  the  Jacksons, 
the  Spaights,  the  Bryans,  the  Dawsons,  the  Iredells  and  the  Waddells, 
with  many  other  Irish  families.85 

While  he  made  the  grantees  rich,  the  Governor  of  Virginia  secured 
a  great  increase  of  population  and  wealth  for  that  colony.  The  proprie¬ 
tors,  Hite,  Beverly  and  Burden,  engaged  agents  and  sent  out  advertise¬ 
ments  for  the  emigrants’  direction,  as  they  landed  on  the  Delaware. 
Also,  when  the  voyagers  were  about  to  leave  their  native  land,  the 
proprietors  offered  favourable  terms  to  them  as  actual  settlers.86  Soon 


79  He  was  born  in  Ireland,  about 
1695. 

80  The  distinguished  patriot  and 
General  of  the  American  Revolution 
under  Washington.  Born  at  Berwick 
Maine,  February  17th,  1840.  See  an 
account  of  him  in  “  Irish  Celts,”  by  a 
member  of  the  Michigan  Bar. 

81  Born  April  22nd,  1744,  at  Berwick, 
Maine.  In  1775,  he  founded  in  the  same 
State  a  township,  called  Limerick,  from 
which  city,  several  of  its  first  settlers 
arrived.  He  was  afterwards  Governor 
of  Massachusetts.  (See  ibid.) 

82  See  Thomas  D’Arcy  M'Gee’s  “  His¬ 
tory  of  the  Irish  Settlers  in  North 
America,”  chap,  hi.,  pp.  36  to  38. 

83  See  “Irish  Celts,”  by  a  Member  of 
the  Michigan  B;  r. 

84  His  distinguished  son  Edward,  whose 
name  is  attached  to  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  was  born  in  Charleston, 
South  Carolina,  in  November,  1740. 
The  father  died  soon  after  his  birth, 


leaving  him  to  his  mother’s  care,  and 
she  being  a  very  intelligent  woman,  and 
imbued  with  Republican  ideas,  moulded 
and  fostered  them  in  the  mind  of  her 
son. 

88  See  “  Irish  Celts,”  by  a  Member  of 
the  Michigan  Bar,  under  the  heading  of 
the  foregoing  respective  names. 

86  Among  others  who  came  to  Virginia 
about  the  year  1736  was  an  Irish  girl, 
named  Polly  Mulhollin.  On  her  arrival 
she  was  hired  to  James  Bell,  to  pay  her 
passage,  and  with  him  she  remained 
during  the  period  her  servitude  was  to 
continue.  At  its  expiration,  she  attired 
herself  in  the  habit  of  a  man,  when  with 
hunting-shirt  and  moccasins,  she  went 
into  Burden’s  grant,  for  the  purpose  of 
making  improvements  and  of  acquiring 
a  title  to  land.  Here  she  erected  thirty 
cabins,  by  virtue  of  which  she  held  one 
hundred  acres  adjoining  each.  When 
Benjamin  Burden  the  younger,  came  to 
make  deeds  for  those  who  held  cabin 


IRISH  COLONIZATION  IN  THE  EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY. 


105 


after,  Hite87  removed  his  farm  to  Opecquon.  Immediately  on  arriving 
from  Ireland,  the  Irish  began  to  rear  habitations  around  him.88 
Samuel  Glass  and  Mary  Gamble  his  wife 89  took  up  their  residence  at 
the  head  spring  of  the  Opecquon,90  in  1 7 36. 91  A  son-in-law,  Becket, 
was  seated  between  Mr.  Glass  and  North  Mountain.  His  son  David 
occupied  a  residence  a  little  below  his  father,  at  Cherry  Mead.  His 
son,  Robert,  was  placed  a  little  further  down,  at  Long  Meadows.92 
Next  down  the  creek  was  Joseph  Colovin  and  his  family.  Then  came 
John  Wilson,  who  emigrated  from  the  County  of  Armagh  in  Ireland, 
A.D.  173  7  93  The  Marquis  family,  with  whom  he  was  connected, 
lived  near  him.  Next  were  the  M'Auleys  and  then  was  William  Hoge. 
Adjoining  these,  to  the  south,  were  the  Allen  family,  a  part  of  whom 
speedily  removed  to  Front  Royal.  The  M‘Gill  family  now  occupy  their 
position.  A  little  beyond  the  village  lived  Robert  Wilson  ;  his  residence 
remains  to  this  day.  A  little  down  the  stream  lived  James  Vance,  son- 
in-law  of  Sam  Glass,  and  ancestor  of  a  numerous  race,  most  of  whom 
are  to  be  found  west  of  the  Alleghanies.  These  were  all  settled  there 
so  early  as  1736  or  1737. 94  An  Irish  family  named  Goode  settled  at 


rights,  he  was  astonished  to  see  so  many 
bearing  the  name  of  Mulhollin.  Investi¬ 
gations  led  to  the  discovery  of  the 
mystery,  and  to  the  great  mirth  of  the 
other  claimants.  Then  Polly  Mulhollin 
resumed  her  Christian  name  and  familiar 
dress.  Many  of  her  respectable  descen¬ 
dants  still  reside  within  the  limits  of 
Burden’s  grant.  See  Rev.  William 
Henry  Foote’s  “  Sketches,  Historical  and 
Biographical,  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  Virginia.” 

87  His  sons-in-law,  Bowman  and  Chris¬ 
tian,  lived  near  to  Stephens  and  M'Kay, 
Irish  settlers. 

88  Although  in  1652,  the  Commissaries 
of  the  Commonwealth  had  ordered  “  Irish 
women  to  be  sold  to  merchants  and 
shipped  to  Virginia,”  yet  few  traces  of 
these  have  been  found  in  t'  at  colony. 
But,  although  Virginia  had  placed  on  her 
statute-books  severe  penal  laws  against 
Catholics  ;  still  some  families — we  can 
scarcely  doubt,  many  of  these  Irish  or  of 
Irish  descent — settled  on  the  southern 
shore  of  Aquia  Creek,  and  priests  entered 
Virginia  from  time  to  time.  See  John  Gil- 
mary  Shea’s  “Catholic  Church  in  Colonial 
Days,”  Book  iv.,  chap,  iii.,  pp.  409,  410. 

89  They  came  from  Banbridge,  County 
of  Down,  in  Ireland.  His  wife  often 
spoke  of  her  two  fair  brothers,  who 
perished  in  the  siege  of  Derry.  A  lime¬ 
stone  pyramid  has  been  reared  to  the 
memory  of  those  settlers. 


90  They  had  purchased  from  Hite 
16,000  acres  of  land. 

91  See  Rev.  William  Henry  Foote’s 
“Sketches,  Historical  and  Biographical, 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Virginia.” 

92  The  stone  dwelling  is  on  the  old  site, 
and  at  the  back  of  it  is  carefully  pre¬ 
served  a  part  of  the  stockade  fort,  used 
as  a  place  of  refuge  in  case  of  alarms. 

93  According  to  tradition,  he  was  a 
schoolmaster  in  the  settlement.  Here, 
according  to  an  inscribed  tombstone,  lay 
the  bodies  of  his  wife  and  two  children, 
who  died  before  himself  in  1742.  The 
lettering  of  the  tomb  is  given  by  Foote, 
who  writing  on  the  subject  remarks  : — 
“  Let  us  pause  a  few  moments  at  this 
rough,  low,  time-worn  stone,  in  the 
very  centie  of  the  graves,  the  first, 
with  an  inscription,  reared  in  the 
valley  of  Virginia,  to  mark  the  resting- 
place  of  an  emigrant.  You  will  scar¬ 
cely  read  the  inscription  on  one  side  or 
decipher  the  letters  on  the  other.  The 
stone  crumbled  under  the  unskilful 
hands  of  the  husband,  who  brought  it 
from  that  eminence  yonder  in  the 
West,  and,  in  the  absence  of  a  proper 
artist,  inscribed  the  letters  himself,  to 
be  a  memorial  to  his  young  and  lovely 
wife.” 

94  See  “Sketches,  Hiscorical  and 
Biographical,  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Virginia,,”  pp-  21,  22. 
Ildition  of  1SS5.  . 


106 


IRISH- AM  ERIC  AN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


an  early  period  in  Virginia,05  as  also,  the  Madisons,  the  Conways,  and 
the  M'Kendrees,  who  came  as  immigrants  from  Ireland.  John  Lewis 
was  of  Huguenot  descent,  and  he  came  from  Ireland  in  1732.  He  was 
the  first  white  resident  of  Bellefont,96  Augusta  County,  Virginia.97 
About  thirty  of  his  former  tenants  and  countrymen  are  said  likewise  to 
have  settled  there.  Three  of  his  sons  were  born  in  the  County  of 
Donegal,  Ireland  :  viz.,  Thomas,08  Andrew,"  and  William.100  His  *on 
Charles101  was  born  in  Virginia.  At  an  early  period  in  the  eighteenth 
century,  Colonel  James  Patton  came  from  Donegal,  Ireland.  Previous 
to  1753,  he  obtained  a  grant  for  one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand 
acres  of  land  from  the  Governor  of  Virginia.102  Among  others,  the 
M‘I)owells — whether  hailing  from  Ireland  or  Scotland  is  doubtful — 
settled  in  Virginia,  during  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,103 


•  '  Some  of  their  posterity  attained 
distinction.  Among  these  were  Samuel 
Goode,  an  Irish-American  patriot  of 
the  Revolution,  representing  Virginia 
in  Congress  from  17!>9  to  1801  ;  Patrick 
G.  Goode,  member  of  Congress  for 
Ohio,  from  1837  to  1843  ;  William  O. 
Goode,  member  of  Congress  for  Vir¬ 
ginia  from  1853  to  his  death,  July  3rd, 
1SS9.  >See  *•  Irish  Celts,”  by  a  Member 
of  the  Michigan  Bar. 

86  John  Lewis’  settlement  was  a  few 
miles  below  the  site  of  the  town  of 
Staunton,  and  on  the  banks  of  the 
stream,  which  still  bears  his  name. 

97  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  iii.,  p.  701. 

ss  He  was  born  in  1718.  Though 
less  efficient  during  the  Indian  wars 
than  his  brothers,  Thomas  was  a .  man 
of  learning  and  of  sound  judgment. 
He  represented  th  •  County  of  Augusta 
for  many  years  in  the  House  of  Bur¬ 
gesses  ;  he  was  a  member  of  the  Con¬ 
vention  which  ratified  the  Constitution 
of  the  United  States,  and  which  formed 
the  Constitution  of  Virginia.  After¬ 
wards,  he  sat  for  the  County  of  Rock¬ 
ingham,  in  ti  e  House  of  Delegates  of 
Virginia.  In  1765,  he  was  in  the 
House  of  Burgesses,  and  he  voted  for 
Patrick  Henry’s  celebrated  resolutions. 
Thomas  Lewis  had  four  sons,  who 
actively  participated  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution;  the  youngest  of  these, 
Thomas,  bore  an  ensign’s  commission, 
when  only  fourteen  years  of  age.  See 
ibid.,  p.  702. 

99  Andrew  Lewis,  born  about  1720, 
and  his  second  son,  was  the  general  who 
commanded  at  the  Battle  of  Point 


Pleasant,  in  the  War  of  Independence. 
See  ibid.,  pp.  701,  702. 

100  He  was  born  in  1724.  Afterwards, 
he  became  colonel.  He  was  an  active 
participator  in  the  border  wars,  and  he 
was  an  officer  of  the  Revolutionary 
army.  Duiing  the  war  for  Independ¬ 
ence,  one  of  his  sons  was  killed,  and 
another  was  maimed  for  life.  See  Rev. 
William  H.  Foote’s  “  Sketches,  Histori¬ 
cal  and  Biographical,  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Virginia.” 

101  Charles,  the  child  of  John  Lewis’ 
old  age,  was  b  rn  after  settlement  at 
their  mountain  home,  in  Virginia.  He 
was  the  hero  of  many  a  gallant  exploit, 
still  treasured  in  the  memories  of  the 
border  riflemen’s  descendants,  and  there 
are  few  families  among  the  Aileghanies, 
where  the  name  and  deeds  of  Charles 
Lewis  are  not  familiar.  His  bravery 
and  character  during  the  Revolutionary 
War  caused  him  to  be  appointed  colonel. 
He  fell  at  tire  head  of  his  regiment, 
when  leading  on  the  attack  at  Point 
Pleasant. 

102  See  “  Sketches,  Historical  and  Bio¬ 
graphical,  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Virginia,”  p.  36. 

103  In  the  latter  part  of  December,  1743, 
the  inhabitants  of  Timber  Ridge  were 
assembled  at  M'Dowell’s  dwelling  in 
wonder  and  alarm,  to  resist  one  of  the 
murderous  incursions  of  the  Indians  from 
Ohio.  These  would  not  yield  the  valley 
of  the  Shenandoah  to  the  whites,  but 
with  bloodshed.  M1  Dowell  had  rallied 
his  neighbours.  Not  well  skilled  in 
savage  warfare,  the  company  fell  into 
an  ambush,  at  the  junction  of  the  North 
River  and  the  James,  where  at  one  fire 


IRISH  COLONIZATION  IN  THE  EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY.  107 

and  had  their  experience  of  the  dangers  to  which  pioneers  in  the 
wilderness  were  so  often  exposed. 

In  Newcastle  government,  4,500  persons  arrived  as  immigrants,  and 
chiefly  from  Ireland,  in  1726. 104  John  Campbell,  the  great  ancestor  of 
the  Campbells  of  Holston,  came  from  Ireland  to  America,  with  a  family 
of  five  grown  sons  and  several  daughters,  in  the  same  year.105  One  of 
these  sons,  and  who  was  named  Patrick,  had  a  son  Charles,  and  he  had  a  son 
William.106  David,  the  youngest  son  of  John,  married  May  Hamilton.107 
It  seems  probable,  that  these  Campbells  were  related  to  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Alexander  Campbell,  born  in  Ireland  a.d.  1788,  and  who  afterwards 
migrated  to  Bethany,  Virginia,  where  he  presided  over  a  College  there 
founded,  and  where  he  became  leader  of  a  peculiar  class  of  Presbyterians, 
called  “  The  Disciples  of  Christ, ”los  but  more  frequently  styled 
Campbellites. 

While  the  stream  of  emigration  proceeded,109  in  the  year  1728 
thousands  took  shipping  from  Belfast,  and  from  other  places  in  Ulster. 
Tliese  were  mostly  Presbyterians,  who  as  well  as  the  Irish  Catholics 


M ‘Dowell  and  eight  of  his  companions 
fell  dead.  Tiie  Indians  fled  precipitately, 
in  consequence  probably  of  the  unusual 
extent  of  their  murderous  success.  The 
alarmed  population  gathered  in  the  field 
of  slaughter,  and  thought  more  of  the 
dead  than  of  pursuing  the  savages,  whom 
they  supposed  far  on  their  way  to  the 
West.  Their  neighbours  took  the  nine 
bloody  corpses  on  horseback,  and  laid 
them  side  by  side,  near  M'Dowell’s  dwell¬ 
ing,  while  in  overwhelming  distress  they 
prepared  their  graves.  Though  mourn¬ 
ing  the  loss  of  their  leading  men,  and 
unacquainted  with  military  manoeuvres 
on  the  frontiers,  no  one  talked  of  aban¬ 
doning  possessions,  for  which  so  high  a 
ice  of  blood  had  been  given  and  a£  a 
time  of  profound  peace.  In  their  sad¬ 
ness,  the  women  even  were  brave.  Bury¬ 
ing  their  dead  with  the  solemnity  of 
Christian  rights,  while  the  murderers 
escaped  beyond  the  mountains ;  men  and 
women  resolved  to  sow  their  fields,  build 
their  church,  and  lay  the  bodies  in  Tim¬ 
ber  Ridge.  These  were  the  first  white 
men  committed  to  the  dust  in  Rock¬ 
bridge  county.  Within  a  brick  enclo¬ 
sure,  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  from 
Staunton  to  Lexington,  and  near  the 
Red  House  or  Maryland  Tavern,  the 
former  residence  of  M ‘Dowell  is  still  to 
be  found.  Entering  the  iron  gate,  and 
inclining  to  the  left,  about  fifteen  paces, 
there  is  a  rough,  unhewn  limestone, 
about  two  feet  in  height,  on  which,  in 
rude  letters,  by  an  unknown  and  un¬ 


practised  hand,  is  the  following  inscrip¬ 
tion,  next  in  age  to  the  Irish  school¬ 
master’s  wife  in  the  graveyard  of  Opec- 
quon  : 

Here  lyes  the  body  of 
JOHN  MackDOWEI.L, 

Deced.  December,  1743. 

— See  ibid.,  pp.  80  to  93. 

10  -  See  John  Fanning  Watson’s  “  An¬ 
nals  of  Philadelphia.” 

105  About  the  year  1730,  he  removed 
to  what  was  then  Orange  -  afterwards 
Augusta — County,  wdiere  he  resided  un¬ 
til  his  death,  and  where  his  numerous 
descendants  lived  for  many  years. 

106  He  was  General  William  Campbell 
of  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  the 
grandfather  of  Mrs.  M‘Dowell,  wife  to 
General  M'Dowell,  of  the  late  Confede¬ 
rate  War. 

107  They  had  a  family  of  thirteen  chil¬ 
dren,  seven  sons  and  six  daughters,  the 
youngest  of  whom  was  nineteen  years 
old,  when  they  removed  to  Holston.  In 
1765,  John,  the  oldest  son  of  David 
Campbell,  in  company  with  Dr.  Thomas 
Walker,  explored  the  western  wilderness, 
and  purchased  for  his  father  and  himself 
an  ancient  survey,  near  the  head  waters 
of  the  Holston  River. 

108  See  “  Irish  Celts,”  by  a  Member  of 
the  Michigan  Bar. 

109  See  Talvi’s  “  History  of  the  Coloni¬ 
zation  of  America,”  edited  by  William 
Hazlitt,  in  Two  Vols.  Published  at 
London,  1851.  8vo. 


108 


1R1SH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


then  laboured  under  religious  and  civil  disabilities  caused  by  the  Sacra¬ 
mental  Test,  and  owing  to  their  Episcopalian  landlords’  refusing  to  per¬ 
mit  Presbyterian  churches  to  be  built  in  many  instances  on  their  large 
estates  Moreover,  when  their  original  leases  fell  out  about  this  time, 
the  rents  were  enormously  raised,  and  with  them  tithes  payable  to  the 
episcopal  clergy.  Adding  to  discouragement,  the  three  successive  harvests 
after  1724  proved  most  unfavourable,  and  the  price  of  food  increased  in 
proportion.110  Unable  to  procure  a  comfortable  subsistence  in  their  native 
land  for  themselves  and  families,  multitudes  of  labourers  and  husbanclsmen 
embarked  for  America.111  The  tales  of  oppression  told  their  sons  of 
i  another  generation  produced  the  soldiers  of  the  American  Revolution. 

1  Towards  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  and  beginning  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  a  great  number  of  Irish  arrived  in  New  York, 
many  moving  into  the  interior.  In  1738,  William  Johnson112  estab¬ 
lished  himself  in  Johnstown,  Schoharie  County.  Soon  afterwards,  he 
erected  a  schoolhouse.  The  earliest  teacher  in  his  school  was  an  Irish¬ 
man,  named  Wall.  He  had  also  an  Irishman  named  Flood  as  a  broiv- 
master,113  who  was  an  overseer  or  manager  of  the  whole  farm.  He  had 
besides  an  Irish  Secretary  named  LafTerty,  who  was  a  good  lawyer  and 
who  transacted  his  legal  business.  He  had  moreover  an  Irish  physician 
named  Daly.114  The  first  settler  in  the  town  of  Montgomery,  New 
York,  was  a  Mr.  Eager,116  who  came  from  Ireland  in  1728.  In  the 
same  vessel  arrived  with  him  Mr.  James  M‘Bride116  and  Mr.  White.117 
The  lands  first  purchased  by  these  families  are  in  part  possessed  by  their 
descendants.118  The  village  of  New  Windsor  is  thought  to  be  the 
oldest  in  Orange  County,  New  York.  It  was  first  settled  by  immigrants, 
principally  from  Ireland,  who  went  there  in  considerable  numbers,  so 
early  as  1731.  Another  Irish  emigrant  was  Patrick  Barber,  born  in 
the  County  Longford,  and  who  emigrated  to  America,  in  the  year  1749 
or  1750.  After  a  short  residence  in  New  York,  he  removed  to  the 
small  village  of  Princeton,119  in  New  Jersey. 


110  See  Rev.  Dr.  James  Seaton  Reid’s 
“History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Ireland,”  voL  iii,  chap.  xxvi.  New 
edition,  with  additional  Notes,  by  W,  D. 
Killen,  D.D.  Belfast,  1867,  8vo. 

111  In  the  year  1729,  nearly  6,000  Irish 
are  reported  to  have  landed  in  America, 
and  before  the  middle  of  the  century, 
nearly  12,000  arrived  annually  for  several 
years.  “  The  flow  of  the  Catholic  Irish 
did  not  take  place  until  a  comparatively 
recent  period.”  —  Dr.  Hodge’s  “  Con¬ 
stitutional  History  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,” 
Part  1.,  pp.  65,  66. 

112  Born  in  Smithtown,  Co.  Meath, 
Ireland,  in  1715.  In  1738  he  established 
himself  on  a  tract  of  land  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Mohawk  River.  He  died 


« 

in  Johnstown,  N.Y.,  11th  July,  1774. 

See  Appleton’s  “Cyclopaedia  of  Ameri¬ 
can  Biography,  Vol.  iii.,  p.  451. 

113  This  is  a  Low  Dutch  word,  signi¬ 
fying  “  honest,”  but  usually  applied  to 
a  confidential  head  servant. 

114  See  J.  R.  Sims  “  Trappers  of  New 
York.” 

118  The  son  of  this  Mr.  Eager  had  a 
daughter,  who  married  Captain  Janies 
M'Bride,  of  the  Revolution. 

116  He  was  the  grandfather  of  John 
M’Bride  of  Hamptonburgh. 

117  He  was  grandfather  to  Major  John 
White  of  Wallkill. 

118  See  “  History  of  Orange  County, 
New  York.”  Edition  of  1846. 

118  There  his  distinguished  son  Francis 
was  born,  in  1757. 


IRISH  COLONIZATION  IN  THE  EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY. 


iuy 


Towards  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century,  the  colonial 
population  in  America  had  received  large  accessions  from  the  influx  of 
immigrants,  belonging  to  the  Northern  counties  of  Ireland.  The  Ulster 
linen  manufacture  had  been  there  developed,  chiefly  owing  to  the  skill 
and  industry  of  the  Presbyterians.  Land  had  risen  greatly  in  value 
as  a  consequence,  for  capital  made  by  trade  had  been  sunk  in  the  soil ; 
an  educated,  enterprising  peasantry  had  converted  bog  and  mountain 
into  corn  and  flax  fields ;  the  lords  to  whom  a  large  part  of  this  land 
belonged,  and  several  of  whom  had  never  so  much  as  set  their  eyes  on 
the  surface  of  their  property,  concluded,  that  the  increased  value  did 
not  belong  to  the  tenants  who  had  created  it,  but  to  themselves,  who 
had  allowed  it  to  be  created.  As  leases  fell  in,  they  demanded  enor¬ 
mous  fines,  before  they  would  renew  the  tenures  of  actual  occupiers 
and  cultivators,  or  rents  which  could  not  in  justice  be  paid.  They 
served  ejectments,  on  refusal  to  comply  with  their  terms,  and  without 
remorse  or  scruple.  Families  who  had  been  for  generations  upon  the 
soil,  chiefly  Protestants,  were  turned  adrift ;  thousands  of  men,  women 
and  children  were  made  homeless  and  houseless.  They  were  robbed 
by  those  who  ought  to  have  been  their  natural  protectors ;  and  to  the 
New  World,  where  opened  a  prospect  for  obtaining  proprietorial  rights 
and  social  independence,  numerous  bands  of  exasperated  Ulstermen 
turned  to  seek  those  settlements,  which  were  denied  them  by  the 
grandees  at  home.  No  resources  then  remained  for  the  peasantry  but 
emigration.  Those  who  had  any  means  usually  sought  an  asylum  in 
the  American  plantations.  120  Thus,  the  injustice  of  English  policy  in 
the  administration  of  Irish  affairs,  by  an  obvious  process  of  retributive 
justice,  exercised  indirectly — as  we  shall  find  in  the  sequel — a  most  ' 
potent  influence  in  bringing  about  the  dismemberment  of  the  British 
Empire  in  America.  121 

Among  the  frontier  settlers  and  through  the  distant  backwoods, 
Irishmen  were  very  numerous,  as  they  were  also  most  enterprising  and 
adventurous,  during  the  eighteenth  century.  In  1746,  the  celebrated 
Daniel  Boone,  first  settler  and  “  backwoodsman  of  Kentucky,”  had 
Irishmen  as  his  companions,  and  notably  among  these  was  the  heroic 
and  daring  Major  Hugh  M ‘Grady, 122  as  also  Harland,  M'Bride  and 
Chaplain.123  The  father  of  Simon  Kenton,  alias  Butler,124  companion 
of  Daniel  Boone,  and  one  of  the  first  adventurous  pioneers  of  the  West, 
was  an  Irishman.  One  Robert  Edmonds  was  born  in  Dublin,  Ireland. 
He  married  Mar}7  Marks  in  Cork,  and  he  emigrated  to  America  in  1 7  54. 
He  landed  at  Philadelphia,  December  23rd.125  In  1754,  Doctors 


120  See  Rev.  Dr.  James  Seaton  Reid’s 
■“History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Ireland,”  &c. ,  Vol.  iii.,  Chap,  xxxvi., 
pp.  339  to  341.  Edinburgh,  London, 
Dublin  and  Belfast,  1834  to  1853,  8vo. 

121  See  “A  Brief  Account  of  the  Society 
of  the  Friendly  Sons  of  St.  Patrick, 
founded  in  Philadelphia,  in  1770.” 


122  See  Marshall’s  “History  of  Ken¬ 
tucky,”  Yol.  i.,  chap.  iii. 

123  See  Thomas  D’Arcy  M ‘Gee’s  “  His- 
tory  of  the  Irish  Settlers  in  North 
America,”  chap  ii.,  p.  27. 

124  See  Marshall’s  account  of  his  life 
and  extraordinary  adventures. 

125  He  afterwards  removed  to  Bridge- 


110  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

John126  and  Henry127  Stephenson  arrived  from  Ireland,  in  Baltimore. 
The  eastern  portion  of  Montgomery  County,  N.Y.,  was  settled  by  Irish 
emigrants,  who  continued  there  to  occupy  various  localities.  These 
contributed  quite  their  proportion  to  the  general  mass  of  population 
and  labour,  necessary  for  establishing  a  new  country.12S  Captain 
William  Scott  served  in  the  French  war  while  young,  and  he  was  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Dublin,  in  New  Hampshire.129  Before  the  reign 
of  George  II.  ended,  several  thousand  heads  of  families,  all  bred  and 
married  in  Ireland,  were  rearing  up  a  free  posterity,130  along  the  slopes 
of  the  Blue  Itidge,  in  Virginia,  as  also  in  Maryland,  and  even  so  far 
north  as  within  the  valleys  of  the  Hudson  and  the  Merrimac. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


War  between  France  and  England  in  1744 — Peace  of  Aix-la-Chapelle — Renewal  of 
Hostilities— Early  Adventures  of  George  Washington — Arrival  in  America  of 
General  Braddock — Expulsion  of  the  Acadians  from  Nova  Scotia — Defeat 
and  Death  of  Braddock  in  1755— Formal  Declaration  of  War  between  France 
and  England  in  1756 — English  Reverses  and  Failures — Vigorous  measures 
taken  by  William  Pitt,  and  Armaments  assembled  for  Prosecution  of  the 
Contest — Expeditions  against  Canada — The  Taking  of  Quebec  in  1759 — Con¬ 
quest  of  Canada — The  Treaty  of  Paris-  Cession  of  Louisiana  to  Spain  by 
France — Revolt  of  the  Indian  Chief  Pontiac  and  his  Death. 

When  the  French  had  surrendered  Acadia,  they  took  possession  of 
Cape  Breton  Island,  and  there  erected  at  very  considerable  cost  the 
strong  fortress  of  Louisburgh,  at  the  opening  to  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence. 
Their  great  desire  was  to  re-take  Acadia,  where  a  population  originally 
French  was  still  strongly  attached  to  the  country  of  their  fathers. 
At  length,  owing  to  European  complications,  in  1744  England  and 
France  were  again  at  war,  which  was  fiercely  waged  in  Europe.  So  soon 
as  this  was  known  in  America,  the  French  made  descents  on  the  coast 
of  Nova  Scotia,  and  succeeded  in  effecting  some  success.1  The  New 


port,  Connecticut,  and  he  died  at  the 
advanced  age  of  ninety-three,  leaving 
behind  him  a  numerous  offspring.  See 
“  History  of  Ancient  Woodburv  ” 

126  He  conducted  an  extensive  trade 
from  America  with  other  countries. 

127  He  entered  upon  the  practice  of 
medicine.  He  built  a  large  and  an 
elegant  house  on  a  hill  near  the  York 
Road,  and  which  he  afterwards  con¬ 
verted  into  a  Small-pox  hospital.  This 
he  supported  at  his  own  expense,  thus 
becoming  an  early  benefactor  towards 
the  city  and  its  inhabitants.  See 
“Chronicle  of  Baltimore,”  1874. 


128 See  Eager’s  “History  of  Orange 
County,  New  York,”  p.  46.  Edition  of 
1846. 

129  Afterwards  he  signalized  himself, 
by  gallant  achievements  in  the  War  of 
Independence. 

130  For  a  very  comprehensive  view  of 
such  colonization  and  its  results,  see  the 
Abbe  Raynal’s  “  History  of  the  British 
Settlements  and  Trade  in  North  Ameri¬ 
ca.”  Bookiii.  Translated  into  English, 
and  published  at  Edinburgh,] 779.  12mo. 

1  See  George  Bancroft’s  “History  of 
the  United  States,”  Vol.  iii.,  chap, 
xxiv. ,  p.457. 


renewal  op  HOSTILITIES.  Ill 

England  colonists,  without  waiting  aid  from  England,  soon  began 
to  prepare  for  a  war  on  their  own  account.  It  was  resolved  to  surprise 
and  capture  Louishurgh,  and  for  that  purpose  a  confederacy  was  formed, 
when  bills  of  credit  were  issued  and  troops  were  embodied.  The  fleet 
of  Commodore  Warren,  numbering  one  hundred  sail,  was  ordered  from 
the  West  Indies,  and  it  lent  co-operation  in  this  enterprise.2  The 
Governor  of  Massachusetts  William  Shirley  was  most  active  in  second¬ 
ing  hi  -  efforts.3  The  colonists  numbered  3,200  unden  ti  e  command  of 
William  Pepperel.  After  sustaining  a  seige  of  six  weeks,  the  French 
in  Louisburg  capitulated,  on  June  17th  1745. 4  The  New  Englanders 
now  proposed  to  raise  a  colonial  army,  for  the  conquest  of  Canada ; 
but  it  was  decided  by  the  English  government,  that  they  must  only 
menace  Montreal,  while  a  British  fleet  and  an  army  should  ascend  the 
St.  Laurence  to  attack  Quebec.  About  8,000  men  were  accordingly 
embodied  in  New  England  ;  but  the  English  fleet  failed  to  arrive. 
Under  command  of  the  Duke  D’Anville,  a  French  fleet  of  forty 
ships  carrying  3.000  troops  arrived  at  Nova  Scotia.  The  Canadians 
and  Indians  harassed  the  frontiers,  threatening  even  the  reduc¬ 
tion  of  Louisburg  and  Nova  Scotia.  However,  a  series  of  misfor¬ 
tunes  attended  the  French  ;  many  ships  wore  wrecked  and  lost  in 
a  storm  ;  a  terrible  fever  raged  among  the  troops  and  seamen ;  the 
Admiral  died ;  the  Vice-Admiral  committed  suicide  ;  a  second  storm 
dispersed  the  fleet  once  more;  when  the  remnant  of  this  ill-fated 
expedition  returned  to  France.5  On  the  other  hand,  the  New 
Englanders  could  accomplish  nothing  against  the  French  and  Indians. 
At  length,  a  treaty  at  Aix-la-Chapelle  was  concluded  in  October  1748, 
and  this  put  an  end  to  the  war.6  Louisburg  and  Cape  Breton  were 
restored  to  the  French,  in  exchange  for  some  continental  advantages, 
more  highly  prized  by  the  British  monarch  and  ministry.  The  English 
Parliament  gave  an  indemnity  for  colonial  expenses  incurred  during 
that  war.7 

Within  the  colonies,  strifes  of  sect  and  party  were  for  the  most  part 
local  in  origin,  and  they  had  been  waged  for  many  years.  These 
had  nothing  more  than  restricted  interest  and  only  passing  importance, 
while  in  Europe  they  were  scarcely  noticed.8  However,  from  the 


2  See  Dr.  J.  Campbell’s  “  Naval  History 
of  Great  Britain,  including  the  History 
and  Lives  of  the  British  Admirals,”  Vol. 
iv.,  chap,  xxiii.,  pp.  318-319.  London, 
1813,  8  vols.,  8  vo. 

3  See  Hutchinson’s  “  History  of  the 
Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay,”  Vol.  ii., 
chap,  iv.,  pp.  405  to  423. 

4  For  a  detailed  and  an  interesting 
account  of  this  siege,  the  reader  is 
referred  to  Chief  Justice  John 
Marshall’s  “  Life  of  George  Wash¬ 
ington,  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
American  Forces  during  the  war 


which  established  the  Independence  of 
his  country,  and  First  President  of  the 
United  States,”  Vol.  i.  chap,  x.,  pp.  403 
to  416.  London  edition,  1804  to  1807,  5 
vols.,  8vo. 

5  See  G.  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
United  States.”  Vol.  iii.,  chap,  xxiv.,  p. 
463. 

6  See  Henri  Martin’s  “  Histoire  de 
France,”  Tome  xv„  Liv.xcv.,  p.  323. 

7  See  John  R.  G.  Hassard’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States  of  America,”  chap, 
svii.,  p.  118. 

8  See  James  Grahame’s  “  History  of 


mm 


112  I  KISH -AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century,  the  various  colonies — as 
population  increased — began  to  extend  very  materially  the  trade  and 
commerce  of  England.9  In  the  course  of  a  century,  the  march  of 
civilization  had  made  great  strides.  Meanwhile,  among  the  States 
of  Europe — especially  those  in  rivalr}7  and  most  interested — the  national 
concerns  and  growing  progress  of  the  colonists  aroused  extended 
aspirations  and  ambition. 

Vast  tracts  of  territory  disposable  in  the  New  World  were  objects 
which  tended  to  create  disputes  between  the  French  and  English, 
regarding  their  respective  boundary  lines.10  Not  only  did  the  former 
nation  claim  the  whole  range  of  the  Mississippi  River,  but  even  all  the 
great  rivers  flowing  into  it,  and  which  if  allowed  should  have  carried 
them  to  the  very  summits  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains.  An  enter¬ 
prising  course  of  colonization  pursued  by  France  became  exceedingly 
offensive  to  England.  Her  jealousy  could  not  brook  the  establishment 
of  a  line  of  defence,  which,  at  the  same  time  that  it  settled  by  occupa¬ 
tion  the  question  of  France’s  boundaries,  left  the  British  power  exposed 
to  the  attacks,  not  only  of  the  French,  but  also  of  the  Indian  tribes. 
Most  of  these  were  on  terms  of  warm  friendship  and  alliance  with  the 
French  Government.  The  respective  boundaries  of  France  and  Eng¬ 
land,  in  the  New  World,  had  not  been  sufficiently  settled  by  the 
Treaties  of  Utrecht  and  of  Aix-la-Chapelle,11  Mutual  encroachments 
soon  arose,  while  hostilities  followed  for  some  time,  without  any 
regular  declaration  of  war.  At  last  an  open  rupture  took  place.  The 
outcome  of  such  passions  and  jealousies  in  most  States  leads  to  blood¬ 
shed  and  to  political  changes.  In  1749,  an  association  of  merchants 
was  formed  in  London,  and  they  combined  with  Virginian  planters. 
Thus,  the  Ohio  Company  was  formed.  A  grant  of  600,000  acres  on 
the  head  of  that  river  had  been  obtained  from  the  English  Crown,12 
with  exclusive  privileges  of  traffic  amongst  the  Indians.  In  turn,  these 
were  urged  to  resist  such  encroachments,  while  the  French  began  to 
strengthen  Niagara  forts,  and  to  erect  other  posts  at  Presque  Isle,  now 
Erie,  at  Le  Boeuf,  now  Waterford,  and  at  Vanango,  at  present  Frank¬ 
lin,  in  North-Western  Pennsylvania.  Within  these  limits,  after  the 
Governor  of  Canada  had  remonstrated  with  the  Governors  of  New 
York  and  of  Pennsylvania,  some  English  traders  were  seized,  and  their 


the  United  States  of  North  America," 
Vol.  ii.,  Books  iii.  to  vii.  Vol.  iii.,  Books 
viii.  to  x.  for  accounts  of  these  contests. 

9  This  is  shown  in  a  pamphlet,  pub¬ 
lished  a.d.  1731,  and  intituled:  “The 
Importance  of  the  British  Plantations 
in  America  to  this  Kingdom,  with  the 
State  of  the  Trade  and  Methods  for  im¬ 
proving  it.  Also,  a  Description  of  the 
several  Colonies  there,”  8vo. 

10  See  “  The  Annual  Register;  or  a 
view  of  the  History,  Politicks,  and 
Literature,  for  the  year  1758,”  Vol.  i. 


History  of  the  Present  War,  chap,  i., 
pp.  2  to  4.  London,  175S,  etseq.,  8vo. 
The  plan  of  this  interesting  and  valu¬ 
able  periodical  was  conceived  by  the 
renowned  statesman,  orator  and  man  of 
letters,  Edmund  Burke ;  while  he 
undertook  writing  the  historical  portion, 
which  engagement  he  admirably  ful¬ 
filled  for  many  succeeding  years. 

11  See  Henri  Martin’s  “  Histoire  de 
France,”  Tome  xv.,  Liv.  xev.,  p.  324. 

19  See  Hugh  Murray’s  “United  States 
of  America,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  x.,  p.  319. 


George  Washington , 

First  President  nT  the  United  Slates. 


Benjamin  Franklin, 

US  Ambassador  to  France 


Richard  Montgomery 

Brigadier-Genera!  U  S.  Army 


John  Sullivan 

Major  -  Genera /  U  S  Army 


EARLY  ADVENTURES  OF  GEORGE  WASHINGTON.  113 

goods  were  confiscated.  This  proceeding  caused  the  Ohio  Company  to 
make  loud  complaints,  and  among  the  colonists  great  resentment  was 
aroused. 

Meantime,  orders  arriving  from  England  reached  the  Governors 
of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  to  prevent  the  establishment  of  forts 
within  their  specified  limits  and  to  take  further  proceedings.  At  this 
period,  Robert  Dinwiddle  was  Governor  of  Virginia.  He  was  dis¬ 
tinguished  for  ability  and  for  the  interest  he  felt  regarding  the  exclusion 
of  Frenchmen  from  the  Colonial  dependencies.13  Governor  Dinwiddle 
having  laid  his  grounds  of  complaint  before  the  Legislative  Assembly 
of  Virginia,  it  was  resolved  to  select  a  messenger  who  should  bear 
a  remonstrance  to  M.  Legardeur  de  St.  Pierre,  then  in  command  at 
one  of  the  nearest  French  posts.  The  appointment  having  been 
offered  to  several  and  l'efused,  a  young  man — then  not  quite  t^entv- 
two  years  old — was  applied  to,  when  he  promptly  accepted  the  respon¬ 
sibilities  and  dangers  attending  on  this  delicate  and  difficult  mission. 
He  was  no  other  than  George  Washington,  14  who  now  entered  on  a 


13  (See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States,”  Vol.  iv.,  chap,  iv., 
p.  97. 

14  He  is  said  to  have  been  of  English 
ancestors,  among  the  first  settlers  of  the 
oldest  British  colony  in  America,  and  he 
was  born  in  Westmoreland  County,  Vir¬ 
ginia,  February  22nd  1732.  At  the  early 
age  of  ten  years,  his  father  Augustine 
died,  and  young  George  lived  with  his 
mother  Mary,  nee  Ball,  on  the  paternal 
estate,  near  Fredericksburg,  on  the 
Rappahannock  River.  He  received  but 
a  moderately  liberal  education,  owing  to 
want  of  opportunities  in  those  earlier 
times  of  colonial  life ;  but  he  was  dili¬ 
gent  and  studious,  so  that  his  natural 
abilities  and  his  scholarly  acquirements 
soon  rendered  him  conspicuous.  For  a 
profession  he  selected  that  of  a  surveyor, 
and  for  which  he  had  all  the  requisite 
qualifications.  His  elder  brother  Law¬ 
rence  Washington  had  become  a  member 
of  the  Ohio  Company  ;  while  this  cir¬ 
cumstance  alone  was  sufficient  to  enlist 
George’s  sympathies  and  co-operation 
in  the  task  now  confided  to  him.  At 
the  early  age  of  nineteen  he  received  an 
important  command  in  the  militia,  with 
the  rank  of  Major.  See  David  Ramsey’s 
“Life  of  George  Washington,  Com- 
mander-in-Chief  of  the  Armies  of  the 
United  States  in  the  War  which  estab¬ 
lished  their  Independence ;  and  First 
President  of  the  United  States,”  chap, 
i.  London  edition,  1807,  8vo,  It  is 
well  to  observe  here,  that  Dr.  Thomas 


Addis  Emmet,  in  his  Address  before  the 
American  Irish  Historical  Society  of 
New  York,  delivered  January  19th  1899, 
has  introduced  the  following  statement : 
“  Washington  was  in  all  probability 
descended  on  his  father’s  side  from  an 
Irish  emigrant,  and  his  mother’s  family, 
the  Balls,  beyond  doubt  came  from  the 
neighbourhood  of  Dublin.  Walford  in 
his  “  Country  Families  of  the  United 
Kingdom”  shows  that  at  the  present 
time  the  only  families  bearing  the  name 
of  Ball  are  to  be  found  in  Ireland. 
The  family,  it  is  stated,  came  to  Ireland 
in  the  fourteenth  century  as  Flemish 
emigrants.  The  De  Wessingtons  it  is 
also  claimed  were  Flemish  who  settled 
about  the  same  time  in  both  England 
and  Ireland.  But  the  last  of  the 
English  family  it  is  known  died  some 
yf  ars  before  the  planting  of  Jamestown, 
Va.  The  members  of  the  Irish  branch 
it  seems  have  all  been  traced,  and  some 
of  them  to  this  countiy.  One,  a  son  of 
Henry  Washington,  who  was  a  promi¬ 
nent  man,  disappeared  from  Ireland 
during  the  troubles  I  have  described. 
He  probably  escaped  to  Bermuda, 
where  almost  all  ves-els  first  stopped  on 
their  way  to  the  American  colonies. 
During  a  visit  to  Bermuda  in  1852,  I 
had  occasion  to  examine  some  of  the 
church  records  of  this  period.  I  there 
saw  several  references  made  in  the 
minutes  of  the  vestry  meetings  to  one 
Washington  “  a  sojourner,”  who  was 
several  times  fined  for  not  conforming 

H 


114  I  RISK- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


public  career.  Thus  was  he  prepared  for  those  future  great  acts,  which 
have  rendered  his  name  ever  memorable  and  revered  in  the  history  of 
the  United  States. 

At  the  end  of  October  1753,  Washington  set  out  on  a  dangerous 
and  most  difficult  journey  of  over  five  hundred  miles,  and  through  a 
trackless  wilderness  infested  by  Indians,  who  for  the  most  part  were 
gained  over  by  the  French.  He  had  only  Christopher  Gist  as  a  guide 
and  four  other  attendants,  when  he  travelled  by  way  of  the  junction 
of  the  Monongohela  and  Alleghany  Rivers.  15  At  last,  he  reached  St. 
Pierre’s  fort  at  Le  Boeuf.  The  French  commander  declared,  that  he 
had  no  power  to  quit  his  post,  as  the  letter  of  Governor  Dinwiddle 
demanded.  However,  he  promised  to  transmit  the  letter  and  message 
to  Montreal,  where  the  Marquis  Du  Quesne,  Governor  of  Canada,  then 
resided.  In  the  presence  of  Washington  himself,  the  French  officers 
made  no  secret  of  what  had  been  intended  by  their  government,  and 
they  even  declared  their  own  resolution,  to  take  possession  of  the  Ohio 
River  and  of  all  that  country  which  it  drained.  1(5  The  return  journey 
of  Washington  and  his  party  was  made  in  winter,17  and  as  a  part  of  their 
way  was  by  canoe,  when  they  arrived  at  Fort  Venango,  fears  were 
entertained  that  they  should  be  massacred  by  hostile  Indians.  Then 
taking  to  the  woods,  having  only  packs  on  their  shoulders  and  guns  in 
their  hands,  Washington  and  his  guide  reached  the  Alleghany  River, 
which  they  found  to  be  half-frozen,  and  the  mid-channel  was  filled  with 
ice-flakes.  After  a  day’s  labour,  they  constructed  a  rude  raft,  and  on 
this  they  endeavoured  to  cross.  But  they  narrowly  escaped  drowning 
in  the  attempt,  for  they’  were  hurled  into  the  deep  and  rapid  stream. 
Nevertheless,  they  succeeded  in  reaching  an  island,  where  they  passed 
that  night,  yet  shivering  with  cold,  and  in  their  wet  clothes  now  frozen 
to  their  bodies.  By  morning,  the  whole  river  was  covered  with  solid 
ice,  and  thus  -were  they  enabled  once  more  to  enter  the  woods.18  After 


by  attending  the  service  of  the  Estab¬ 
lished  Church.  He  seemed  to  have 
proved  incorrigible  as  he  was  ordered 
“to  go  his  way  ”  He  probably  did  so 
to  Virginia,  from  the  known  fact,  that 
his  father  had  been  a  friend  of  Lord 
Baltimore  and  others  who  were  con¬ 
nected  with  the  Virginia  settlement.” 

16  “  The  place  was  critically  examined 
by  Major  Washington,  and  he  was 
impressed  with  the  advantages  it 
afforded  as  a  military  post,  both  for 
defence  and  a  depository  of  supplies,  in 
case  of  hostilities  in  that  quar.-er  ;  and 
it  was  by  his  advice,  that  a  f ■  >rtification 
was  shortly  afterwards  begun  there, 
which  became  celebrated  in  two  wars.” 
—  Jared  Sparks’  “Life  of  George 
Washington,  Commander-in-Chief  of 
the  American  Armies,  and  First  Presi¬ 


dent  of  the  United  States,”  &c.  Vol.  i., 
chap,  ii.,  p.  26.  London,  1839,  2  vols., 
8vo. 

16  See  “  Bancroft’s  History  of  the 
United  States,”  Vol.  iv.,  chap,  v.,  pp. 
110,  111. 

17  A  particular  account  of  his  adven¬ 
tures  on  this  journey  may  be  found  in 
Washington  Irving’s  elegantly-written 
“  Life  of  George  Washington,”  Vol.  i., 
chap,  ix.,  pp.  92  to  99.  New  York,  1855 
to  1857,  4  vols.,  royal  8vo. 

18  Washington’s  Journal,  which  he 
had  noted  on  this  expedition  and  con¬ 
taining  an  account  of  these  adventures, 
was  published  in  London.  It  was  re¬ 
garded  as  a  document  of  singular  im¬ 
portance.  This  too  has  been  “  inserted 
at  large,”  as  a  note  in  Chief  Justice 
John  Marshall’s  “  Life  of  George 


EARLY  ADVENTURES  OF  GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 


115 


many  narrow  escapes,  Washington  was  at  length  enabled  to  cross  the 
Alleghany  Mountains  and  to  arrive  in  Virginia. 

As  that  region  lying  beyond  their  western  slopes  had  been  a  wilder¬ 
ness,  hitherto  unsurveyed  and  hardly  explored,  a  colourable  title  was 
sought  from  the  Indians  possessing  hunting  grounds  in  that  quarter,  to 
build  a  fort  on  an  eligible  site,  at  the  junction  of  the  Alleghany  and 
Monongahela  Rivers,  where  the  present  city  of  Pittsburg  now  stands. 
This  was  intended  to  command  the  head  waters  of  the  Ohio  River. 
The  report  and  recommendation  of  Major  Washington  19  ur<red  Governor 
Dinwiddle  to  send  westwards  a  small  body  of  men  to  effect  such  an 
object.  He  recommended  the  other  colonies  to  aid  him  in  an  expedi¬ 
tion  which  he  had  planned.  A  regiment  commanded  by  Colonel  Fry 
was  raised  in  Virginia,  and  Washington  was  appointed  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  in  it.  Joined  by  some  troops  from  New  York  and  from  South 
Carolina,  they  marched  from  Alexandria  westwards ;  but  on  their  way, 
intelligence  was  received  that  the  French  had  seized  the  unfinished 
fort  and  had  called  it  Du  Quesne,  in  compliment  to  the  Canadian 
Governor.  A  detachment  of  the  French  had  been  moved  in  advance 
and  westwards  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  at  a  place  called  the 
Great  Meadows.20  Here  in  May  1754,  Washington  surprised  and  de¬ 
feated  them,  their  commanding  officer  Jumonville  being  slain.21 
Meantime,  Colonel  Fry  died,  and  the  command  then  devolved  on 
Washington.  At  the  Great  Meadows  he  now  built  a  stockaded  entrench¬ 
ment,  which  he  called  Fort  Necessity.  There  he  was  attacked  by  the 
French  in  greatly  superior  force.  After  a  day’s  fighting,  Washington 
and  his  men  were  obliged  to  evacuate  that  position.  On  the  4th 
day  of  July  1754,  the  English  garrison  withdrew  from  the  basin  of 
the  Ohio  River.22  With  arms  and  baggage,  Washington  retired  to  the 
Upper  Potomac,  and  there  he  erected  Fort  Cumberland.  These 
proceedings  created  no  little  alarm  in  the  colonies,  and  even  in  England. 
The  British  Ministry  advised  their  provincials  to  unite  for  general 
defence.  Accordingly  in  June  1754,  delegates  from  New  Hampshire, 
Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  New  Yrork,  Pennsylvania 
and  Maryland  assembled  at  Albany.  On  the  4th  of  July,  the  delegates 
accepted  a  scheme  of  confederation  drawn  up  by  tlie  celebrated 
Benjamin  Franklin,23  then  a  delegate  from  Pennsylvania.  However,  this 
plan  was  to  be  of  no  force  until  confirmed  by  the  several  Assemblies.24 


Washington,”  &c.,  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  i.,  pp. 
■$  to  27. 

29  See  Hugh  Murray’s  “United  States 
of  America,”  Vol.  i.,  chap  x.,  p.  320. 

20  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States,”  Vol.  iv.,  chap,  v., 
pp.  117  to  119. 

21  See  Chief  Justice  John  Marshall’s 
“  Life  of  George  Washington,”  &c., 
Vol.  ii.,  chap,  i  ,  pp.  25  to  27- 

23  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of 


the  United  States,”  Vol.  iv.,  chap,  v., 

p.  121. 

23  See  the  Life  and  a  complete  edition 
of  his  works  by  Jared  Sparks.  Boston, 
1840,  10  vols.,  8vo. 

24  See  “  The  History  of  the  Province 
of  Massachusetis-Bay  from  1749  to  1774, 
comprising  a  detailed  Narrative  of  the 
Origin  and  Early  Stages  of  the  Ameri¬ 
can  Revolution.”  By  Thomas  Hutchin¬ 
son,  Esq.,  LL.D.,  formerly  Governor  of 


116  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Ultimately,  it  was  not  generally  adopted,  as  the  colonial  Assemblies 
considered  that  it  gave  too  much  power  to  the  Crown,  while  the  English 
government  objected  to  it,  as  giving  too  much  authority  to  the  colonies. 
In  England,  anticipating  an  open  rupture  with  France,  the  Ministry  had 
taken  measures  to  send  from  Ireland  General  Braddock  as  Commander- 
in-Chief,  with  two  regiments  of  regulars,  in  the  beginning  of  1755, 25  while 
the  various  Assemblies  were  expected  to  raise  seven  or  eight  thousand 
armed  provincials,  and  to  contribute  large  sums  of  money  for  projected 
operations. 

When  Braddock  had  arrived  in  America,  a  plan  of  campaign  was 
devised  at  Alexandria,  where  he  met  the  Governors  of  five  colonies.26 
The  French  were  to  be  assailed  at  three  different  points.  An  expedition 
to  the  East,  and  directed  against  Nova  Scotia,  had  been  placed  under 
command  of  John  Winslow  of  Massachusetts  and  Colonel  Monkton  of 
the  regular  army.  A  militia  force  of  about  5,000  men,  and  commanded 
by  W'illiam  Johnson  of  Johnstown,  was  assembled  at  Albany.  This 
Irishman,27  who  I, ad  risen  from  the  ranks,  had  uncommon  bodily  strength 
and  a  rude  energy  of  character.  Such  qualifications  had  enabled  him  to 
acquire  great  influence  over  the  Indians  28  His  force  was  intended  to 
operate  against  the  important  fortress  of  Crown  Point,  on  the  frontiers  of 
Canada.  Braddock  himself  undertook  to  lead  in  person  his  regular 
soldiers  a.nd  some  Virginians  to  attack  Fort  Du  Quesne.  In  June  1755, 
the  French  posts  in  Nova  Scotia  were  assailed  by  the  New  Englanders, 
and  tliev  were  surrendered  on  condition  that  the  inhabitants  should  be 
protected  throughout  their  beloved  Acadia.29  There,  the  inhabitants 
of  French  origin  had  long  lived  in  a  state  of  primitive  simplicity,  while 
they  were  remarkable  for  inoffensiveness  of  demeanor  and  gentleness  of 
manners.  But,  despite  of  the  capitulation  and  its  terms,  a  most  cruel 
and  villainous  device  was  adopted  by  the  Lieutenant-Governor  and  Chief 
Justice  of  the  province,  in  consultation  with  two  of  the  British  naval 
commanders.  It  was  ruthlessly  resolved,  to  drive  them  out  of  their 
country,  as  also  to  confiscate  their  lands  and  property  to  the  Crown. 
Until  ripe  for  execution  however,  this  determination  was  to  be  kept 
a  profound  secret  from  the  people.  The  English  were  unwilling  to  bear 
the  expense  of  maintaining  garrisons  in  their  country.  Were  the 
inhabitants  ordered  to  leave  it  even,  it  was  feared  that  they  would 
reinforce  the  French  at  Cape  Breton  and  in  Canada.  It  was  now 


the  Province.  Edited  from  the  author’s 
MS.  by  his  grandson,  the  Rev.  John 
Hutchinson,  M.A.,  chap  i.,  pp.  21  to 
25.  London,  1828,  8vo. 

25  This  plan  of  operatio'-s  was  de¬ 
signed  by  the  Duke  of  Cumberland. 
See  Henri  Martin’s  “  Histoire  de 
France,”  Tome  xv.,  Liv.  xcvii.,  p.  475. 

26  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States,”  Vol.  iv.,  chap,  vii., 
pp.  177  to  179. 


27  At  an  early  age  he  emigrated  from 
Ireland  to  America. 

28  He  pu> dished  a  treatise  on  the 
Customs,  Manners  and  Languages  of 
the  Six  Nations.  This  was  inserted  in 
the  “  Philosophical  Transactions  of  the 
Society  of  Philadelphia,”  Vol.  lxiii. 
November,  1772. 

29  See  HaliburtonTs  “  History  of  Nova 
Scotia,”  Vol.  i. 


DEFEAT  AND  DEATH  OF  GENERAL  BRADDOCK. 


117 


determined,  to  transport  the  Acadians  from  their  homes,  and  to  scatter 
them  far  and  wide  through  the  British  provinces.  The  inhabitants 
were  French  in  language  and  in  sympathy,  while  they  were  Catholic  in 
religion,  and  very  generally  fervent  in  its  practices.  Accordingly,  under 
various  false  pretexts,  they  were  assembled  in  their  respective  parish 
churches.  These  were  then  surrounded  with  troops,  and  the  people 
were  taken  away  as  prisoners.30  Ships  had  been  prepared  for  their  trans¬ 
portation.  In  the  confusion  of  embarkation,  husbands  were  separated 
from  their  wives  and  children  from  their  parents.  The  nearest  relations 
and  the  dearest  friends  were  thus  carried  off  to  distant  colonies,  further 
to  be  persecuted  because  of  their  creed,  and  destined  never  again  to  see 
each  other.31 

This  campaign  was  rendered  remarkable,  owing  to  the  ignominous 
defeat  and  unanticipated  death  of  the  English  General  Braddock. 
Having  assembled  bis  force,  consisting  of  2,200  men,  at  the  General’s 
earnest  solicitation,  Washington  who  had  quitted  the  army  was  induced 
to  serve  as  a  volunteer,  and  in  the  capacity  of  aide-de-camp.  He  had  a 
previous  knowledge  of  the  country,  as  also  of  the  enemy’s  character  and 
mode  of  fighting.  By  great  personal  exertions,  Benjamin  Franklin  32 
influenced  the  Pennsylvania  farmers  to  furnish  waggons  and  horses 
for  transport  of  the  baggage  and  artillery.  Nearly  three  months  were 
lost  during  the  effecting  of  such  arrangements.  At  the  earnest  request 
of  Washington,  it  was  at  last  resolved  to  march  from  Alexandria  with  an 
advance  division  of  1,300  men,  Colonel  Dunbar  with  the  heavy  artillery 
and  baggage  remaining  behind.  The  illustrious  Washington  signalized 
himself  as  a  brave  leader  and  wise  counsellor,  while  acting  as  a  Virgin¬ 
ian  volunteer  on  the  side  of  the  British ;  but,  on  the  march  he  was 
seized  with  a  severe  illness,  and  it  required  his  utmost  efforts  to  keep 
up  with  the  army.  Had  the  General  adopted  Washington’s  advice,  he 
would  have  accepted  the  proffered  aid  of  some  Indians  to  scour  the 
woods  and  to  guard  against  any  surprise,  or  even  he  would  have  thrown 
forward  some  of  the  Virginian  rangers  to  protect  the  front  and  flanks 
of  his  force.  But,  wedded  to  the  forms  of  regular  European  warfare, 
Braddock  had  little  regard  for  the  opinions  of  a  young  provincial.  The 
garrison  at  Fort  Du  Quesne  was  understood  to  be  small,  and  quite  in¬ 
adequate  to  resist  the  force  now  directed  against  it.  On  the  evening  of 
July  8th,  Washington  joined  the  advancing  troops.  On  the  following 


39  See  the  account  of  George  Bancroft’s 
“History  of  the  United  States,”  Vol. 
iv.,  chap,  viii.,  pp.  193  to  206. 

31  This  shocking  outrage  on  natural 
rights  and  human  sympathies  has  been 
related  in  flowing  metre,  in  Longfellow’s 
immortal  and  charming  poem  “  Evange¬ 
line.” 

32  This  eminent  man,  who  afterwards 
figured  so  conspicuously  in  the  history" 
of  his  country,  was  born  in  Boston,  Janu¬ 


ary  6th  1706,  and  he  died  at  Philadel¬ 
phia,  April  17th  1790.  His  life  and 
character  are  set  forth  in  his  works,  pub¬ 
lished  in  London,  1806,  in  three  Volumes, 
8vo.  His  grandson,  W.  J.  Franklin, 
published  “Memoirs  and  Writings  of 
Benjamin  Franklin,”  &c.r  written,  by 
himself  to  a  late  period,  and  continued 
to  the  time  of  his  death.  London,  1818, 
3  vols.  4to,  A  second  edition  followed 
in  3  vols1.,  S'vo, 


118  IBISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


morning,  Braddock  comm  need  his  march,  with  drums  beating  and 
colours  flying,  all  in  the  panoply  of  war.  A  few  miles  from  Fort  Du 
Quesne,  the  English  and  provincials  entered  a  narrow  ravine  through 
the  woods,  where  about  200  French  and  600  armed  Indians  were  con¬ 
cealed  among  the  trees  and  high  grass.  Suddentlv,  an  invisible  enemy 
opened  a  murderous  fire.  The  vanguard  fell  back  in  confusion  ;  yet, 
Braddock  formed  his  regulars  into  platoons  and  columns  to  make  regular 
discharges,  which  only  struck  the  trees.  For  a  short  time  the  British 
stood  firm  ;  but,  after  sixty  of  their  officers  and  more  than  half  of  their 
men  had  been  shot  down,  they  fell  into  a  panic,  and  a  general  flight 
ensued.  Braddock  was  mortally  wounded,  and  borne  to  the  rear.83 
The  despised  Virginian  militia,  under  the  command  of  Washington, 
held  their  ground  bravely.  The  officers  generally  remained  on  the 
field,  while  they  had  any  hope  of  rallying  their  troops.  Of  eighty-six 
engaged,  sixty-three  were  killed  or  wounded,  while  714  of  the  privates 
fell.  All  their  cannon  and  baggage  were  abandoned,  the  survivors 
retreating  to  the  rear  division.34  During  the  whole  of  this  disastrous 
day,  Washington  manifested  the  most  admirable  coolness  and  courage. 
He  escaped  almost  miraculously  without  a  wound,  although  two  horses 
were  shot  under  him,  and  four  bullets  passed  through  his  clothes,  as  he 
was  galloping  in  every  part  of  the  field  a  conspicuous  mark  for  the 
enemy.  The  remnant  of  this  invading  force,  destroying  all  its  stores 
not  needed  for  immediate  use,  retired  to  Philadelphia.  Although  the 
French  deemed  themselves  too  weak  or  unprepared  to  pursue;  yet,  the 
frontiers  were  now  left  exposed  to  Indian  attacks.  However,  a  force 
was  soon  raised  to  defend  them  and  this  was  placed  under  the  command 
of  Washington. 

On  the  death  of  General  Braddock,  Shirley  Governor  of  Massa¬ 
chusetts  became  Commander-in-Chief.  He  marched  an  army  against 
Fort  Niagara.  But,  the  difficulties  of  the  march,  and  that  discouragement 
which  spread  after  the  tidings  of  Braddock’s  defeat,  caused  the  failure  of 
his  expedition.  Having  learned  that  the  French  were  erecting  a  fort  at 
Ticonderoga,  General  Johnson  now  pushed  on  towards  Lake  George. 
The  French  General  Baron  Dieskau  had  brought  from  France  a  large 
reinforcement  of  troops,  and  to  them  he  had  added  a  very  considerable 
body  of  friendly  Indians.35  At  the  head  of  these  he  was  proceeding  to 
attack  the  British  settlements  at  Oswego;  but  hearing  of  Johnson’s 
advance,  he  hastened  to  meet  the  colonists,  who  had  now  taken  up  their 
position  in  a  entrenched  camp.  Dieskau  drove  back  an  advanced 
party  of  1,000  men,  who  had  met  him  unexpectedly,  and  then  he 
advanced  to  assault  the  entrenched  camp.  This  he  attacked  at  Lake 
George,  on  the  5th  of  September;  but  Johnson  received  him  with  great 


88  See  Lord  Mahon’s  “  History 
of  England  from  the  Peace  of 
Utrecht.”  Vol.  iv.,  chap,  xxxii., 
pp,  69,  70.  London,  1S36,  et  seq., 
8  vo. 


34  See  Guizot’s  “  Vie  de  Washington,” 
Tome  iii. 

35  See  Washington  Irving’s  “  Life  of 
George  Washington,”  Vol.  i.,  chap, 
xviii.,  pp.  220  to  223. 


WAR  BETWEEN  ENGLAND  AND  FRANCE  IN  175G,  119 

firmness,  and  opened  a  brisk  fire.  Thi3  caused  the  Canadians  and 
Indians  to  fall  back.  For  several  hours,  the  French  regulars  maintained 
the  contest  with  great  vigour.  The  British  General  was  severely 
wounded,  and  obliged  to  leave  Lynam,  his  second  in  command.  How¬ 
ever,  with  a  loss  of  nearly  1,000  men,  the  French  were  completely 
repulsed;  their  Commander  was  mortally  wounded  and  made  a  prisoner  ; 
while  the  retreating  forces,  suddenly  assailed  by  a  New  York  detach¬ 
ment,  abandoned  their  baggage  and  took  to  flight.36  Afterwards  John¬ 
son  built  Fort  William  Henry,  at  the  head  of  the  lake.  However,  he 
did  not  follow  up  his  victory,  by  an  attack  on  Crown  Point.  Even  the 
French  were  allowed  by  him  to  fortify  Ticonderoga.37 

The  enterprises  and  encroachments  of  the  French  and  English,  as 
also  of  the  colonists  belonging  to  both  races,  were  co-incident  with 
operations  of  the  English  navy,  which  had  long  been  employed  in 
despoiling  the  commerce  of  France.  At  length,  in  May  1756,  England 
openly  declared  war  with  that  nation.38  This  is  generally  known  in 
European  and  in  American  history,  as  the  Seven  Years’  War.  Its 
first  chances  were  favourable  to  the  French,  in  almost  every  place  ;  but, 
on  the  sea,  great  losses  were  sustained  by  them.  On  the  death  of  Baron 
Dieskau,  the  brave  and  able  Marquis  of  Montcalm  39  assumed  the  post 
of  French  Commandant  in  Canada.  In  the  colonies,  General  Shirlev 
had  supreme  command,  and  he  assembled  a  council  of  war  at  New  York, 
After  some  deliberation,  it  was  resolved  that  10,000  men  should  be 
directed  against  Crown  Point,  6,000  against  Niagara,  and  3,000  against 
Fort  Du  Quesne,  while  a  smaller  number  of  troops  should  march 
through  Maine,  in  order  to  create  alarm  for  the  safety  of  Quebec.  Mean¬ 
time,  General  Abercrombie  had  been  despatched  from  England  and 
with  several  regiments  of  regulars,  while  the  Earl  of  Loudon  was  to 
follow  as  Commander-in-Chief,  and  with  extraordinary  powers.  Hesita¬ 
tion  and  indecision  regarding  the  English  movements  followed. 
Taking  advantage  of  their  delays,  the  Marquis  of  Montcalm  crossed 
over  Lake  Ontario  from  Fort  Frontenac,  now  Kingston  in  Canada. 
With  about  5,000  French,  Canadians  and  Indians  he  marched  against 
the  two  Forts  at  Oswego,  which  were  surrendered  to  him,  on  August 
10th  and  14th  1756.  In  the  attack,  Colonel  Mercer  the  commandant 
was  killed.  The  garrison  amounting  to  1,600  men  40  became  prisoners, 
while  121  pieces  of  cannon,  as  also  stores,  sloops  and  boats  were  obtained. 
In  presence  of  the  Indians,  Montcalm  destroyed  the  Forts,  which 
were  objects  of  great  jealousy  to  the  Five  Nations.  This  well  devised 
attack  and  its  successful  execution  filled  the  colonists  with  great  alarm, 


36  After  this  victory,  the  title  of 
Baronet  and  a  gift  of  £5,000  sterling 
were  conferred  on  Johnson.  See  M.  le 
Dr.  Hoefer’s  “  Nouvelle  Biographie 
Generate,”  Tome  xxvi.,  col.  800. 

37  See  Garneau’s  “  Histoire  du  Cana¬ 
da,”  Tome  iii.,  Liv.  iv.,  chap.  i. 

38  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  Hstorv 


of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  iv.,  chap.  x. 

39  The  life  and  actions  of  this 
heroic  man  are  well  illustrated  in 
“  Memoires  sur  le  Canada  depuis  1749 
jusqu’a  1760.”  Quebec,  1830,  8vo. 

40  See  “The  Annual  Register,”  &c., 
Vol.  i.  History  of  the  Present  War, 
chap,  ii.,  p.  13. 


120  IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


and  suspended  their  contemplated  plan  of  operations.  A  series  of 
reverses  for  the  English  succeeded. 

The  object  of  the  Crown  being  to  place  all  the  colonies  under  one 
supreme  military  rule,  Lord  IxDudon  had  been  appointed  Governor  of 
Virginia,  with  a  title  of  precedence  over  the  Governors  of  all  the  other 
provinces.  Dissensions  soon  arose  among  the  provincial  officers,  who 
were  compelled  to  take  rank  under  the  regulars,  while  the  new  Com- 
mander-in-Chief,  owing  to  his  arbitrary  orders  and  manifest  incom¬ 
petency,  became  most  unpopular.  In  the  beginning  of  1757,  he  had 
devised  a  plan  of  operations  against  Louisburg.  Having  raised  8,000 
provincials,  5,000  British  troops  arrived,  under  George  Viscount  Howe, 
while  a  powerful  squadron  under  Admiral  Holbourn  touched  at  Halifax 
in  the  beginning  of  July.  Lord  Loudon  sailed  from  New  York  with 
6,000  regulars,  to  take  command  of  this  combined  expedition.  News 
soon  reached  him,  that  Louisburg  had  been  garrisoned  by  6,000  regulars, 
exclusive  of  Canadians,  and  that  seventeen  line-of-battle  ships  lay  in  the 
harbour.  Moreover  it  was  known  that  a  French  fleet  had  already 
sailed  from  Brest  destined  for  Canada.  Meantime,  taking  advantage  of 
this  futile  expedition,  the  enterprising  Marquis  of  Montcalm,  at  the 
head  of  9,000  men,  laid  seige  to  the  strong  Fort  William  Henry,  having 
a  garrison  of  between  two  and  three  thousand  regulars,  commanded  by 
Colonel  Monroe.  To  secure  this  important  frontier  post,  General  Webb 
was  stationed  at  Fort  Edward  with  an  army  of  4,000  men.  In  this 
great  war  the  native  tribes  of  Indians  participated,  as  they  were 
friendly  or  hostile  to  the  French  or  English.  In  many  instances,  it 
seemed  most  difficult  to  restrain  their  innate  ferocity  and  barbarous 
customs.  In  vain  did  Colonel  Monroe  solicit  succour  from  General 
Webb,  but  after  an  investment  of  six  days,  he  was  obliged  to  capitulate,41 
According  to  the  terms,  that  garrison  was  allowed  to  leave  with  the 
honours  of  war  and  to  be  protected  from  the  Indians.  However,  these 
latter  fell  on  the  unarmed  soldiers,  and  massacred  a  great  number  of 
them.  Blame  has  been  attached  to  Montcalm  and  to  his  officers,  for 
neglect  in  not  preventing  such  outrages,42  yet  these  seem  to  have  been 
perpetrated,  notwithstanding  all  efforts  made  to  save  the  lives  of  their 
prisoners.43  Fort  William  Henry  was  subsequently  razed  to  the 
ground  44  and  it  was  never  afterwards  rebuilt.  It  may  be  observed, 
that  Lord  Loudon’s  mighty  preparations  were  attended  with  failure, 
and  they  covered  him  with  disgrace. 

The  English  and  provincials,  in  the  .eginning  of  1758.  had 
assembled  a  force  of  50,000  men,  under  the  command  of  General 
Abercrombie.  This  was  the  most  powerful  army  that  had  ever  been 
seen  in  America.  It  was  only  after  repeated  failures,  that  a  vigorous 


dee  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  iv.,  chap.  ix. 

42  The  English  prisoners  themselves 
acknowledged,  “  that  the  French  strove 
to  restrain  the  Indians,  but  were  over¬ 
powered.” — Thomas  Hutchinson’s 


“  History  of  the  Province  of  Massa- 
chusetts-Bav  from  1749  to  1774,”  &c., 
chap,  i.,  p.  61. 

43  See  “The  Annual  Register,”  Vol. 
i.  History  of  the  War,  chap,  vii., 
pp.  28  to  32. 


EXPEDITIONS  AGAINST  CANADA. 


121 


an d  well  sustained  plan  of  war,  on  the  part  of  the  English,  led  to  its 
successful  issue  in  their  favour.  The  ill-success  attending1  the  conduct 
of  trie  war  with  France  had  caused  general  discontent  against  the 
government  among  the  people  of  England.  At  length,  William  Pitt, 
afterwards  the  celebrated  Earl  of  Chatham,  was  called  to  the  ministry, 
and  with  functions  which  gave  him  control  of  the  military  operations.44 
He  re-called  the  Earl  of  Loudon,  and  appointed  General  Abercrombie 
to  succeed.  He  fitted  out  a  powerful  fleet  under  Admiral  Boscawen, 
and  he  also  sent  out  12,000  troops  to  America.  The  colonists  were 
ready, on  their  part,  to  raise  a  force  of  more  than  20,000  men;  ships  were 
provided  for  their  transport ;  while  heavy  taxes  self  imposed  furnished 
the  requisite  supplies.  On  the  28th  of  May,  a  fleet  of  twenty  line-of- 
battle  ships  and  eighteen  frigates  sailed  from  Halifax,  under  command 
of  Admiral  Boscawen  ;  while  14,000  men  commanded  by  General 
Amherst  were  on  board.  On  the  2nd  of  June,  they  arrived  before 
Louisburg.  General  Wolfe45  accompanied  this  expedition,  and  he 
became  distinguished  during  the  seige.  The  French  Chevalier  de 
Drucourt,  a  brave  and  an  experienced  officer,  had  charge  of  the  place, 
with  a  garrison  of  2,500  regulars  and  600  militia.  The  harbour  was 
secured  by  five  line-ofbattle  ships,  a  fifty  gun  ship  and  five  frigates. 
The  English  landed  on  the  8th  of  June.46  After  a  siege,  lasting  for 
seven  weeks,  the  place  was  surrendered  July  27th.  The  garrison  and 
sailors,  to  the  number  of  5,000,  were  made  prisoners  and  carried  to 
England.  An  immense  quantity  of  guns,  munitions  and  stores  was 
obtained ;  while  Cape  Breton  and  its  dependencies  were  subjected  to 
the  conquerors,  who  sent  off  the  inhabitants  to  France  in  English 
vessels. 

Under  General  Abercrombie  himself,  another  army,  consisting  of 
7,000  regulars  and  9.000  provincials,  with  a  heavy  train  of  artillery, 
moved  against  Ticonderoga.  By  Montcalm,  this  fort  was  defended 
with  4,000  French.  General  Amherst  descended  Lake  George  in  flat- 
boats,  and  landing  at  its  northern  extremity,  he  routed  an  advanced  guard 
of  the  enemy.  The  General  pushed  on  rapidly  to  capture  Ticonderoga, 
before  reinforcements  then  on  the  way  to  Montcalm  could  arrive.47  He 
was  successfully  opposed,  however,  by  the  French,  who  under  Mont¬ 
calm  made  judicious  preparations  for  the  defence,  having  mustered 
3,600  troops  for  its  preservation.  The  English  regulars  advanced  to 
the  attack,  between  the  open  columns  of  their  provincial  regiments. 


44 See  Charles  Mackay’s  “History  of 
the  United  States,’’  Vol.  i.,  Book  ii., 
chap,  iii  ,  p.  198,  London,  Roy.  8vo. 

45  See  R.  Wright’s  “Life  of  Major- 
General  James  Wolfe,”  London,  1864. 
8vo. 

46  “  At  that  landing,  none  was  more 
gallant  than  Richard  Montgomery ; 
just  one-and-twenty  ;  Irish  by  birth ; 
an  humble  officer  in  Wolfe’s  brigade; 


but  also  a  servant  of  humanity,  en¬ 
listed  in  its  corps  of  immortals. 
The  sagacity  of  his  commander  hon¬ 
oured  him  with  well-deserved  praise 
and  promotion  to  a  lieutenancy.” — 
George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
United  States,”  Vol.  iv.,  chap.  xiii. 

47  See  Thomas  Hutchinson’s  “  His¬ 
tory  of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts- 
Bay,  from  1749  to  1774,”  chap.  i.  *  pp.,7  2, 73 


122 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISl'ORY  OF  THK  UNITED  STATES. 


A  bloody  battle  was  fought  or.  July  8th,  when  the  English  were  com¬ 
pletely  routed,  and  their  General  Abercrombie  was  forced  to  retreat  to 
the  southern  extremity  of  Lake  George.48  The  important  French  post 
of  Frontignac,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and  at  the 
eastern  outlet  of  Lake  Ontario,  was  a  general  repository  for  stores,  and 
the  key  of  communication  between  Canada  and  Louisiana.  At  this 
time,  its  garrison  consisted  only  of  one  hundred  and  ten  men,  with  a 
few  Indian  auxiliaries  An  expedition  was  conducted  against  it  by 
Colonel  Bradstreet,  who  late  on  the  25th  of  August  landed  3,000  men 
and  some  pieces  of  cannon,  within  a  mile  of  the  fort.  The  place  was 
soon  attacked  by  this  greatly  superior  force,  and  in  two  days  it  was 
surrendered  at  discretion.  Sixty  pieces  of  cannon,  with  arms  and  mili¬ 
tary  stores  to  a  large  amount,  were  taken,  besides  nine  armed  vessels, 
mounting  from  eight  to  eighteen  guns.  These  and  the  fort  were 
destroyed,  and  re-crossing  the  Ontario,  Colonel  Bradstreet  returned  to 
the  army.49  The  Virginians  had  placed  under  Washington  a  force  to 
protect  them  from  the  incursions  of  the  French  and  Indians.50  General 
Forbes  also  set  out  from  Philadelphia.  With  a  united  body  of  6,000 
troops,  these  were  directed  against  Fort  Du  Quesne.  The  General 
undertook  to  cut  a  new  road  through  forests  almost  impenetrable, 
instead  of  following  the  old  track,  as  advised  by  Washington.  That  unne¬ 
cessary  delay  to  their  operations broughton  the  month  of  November,  before 
they  arrived  at  their  point  of  destination.  Then  provisions  were  nearly 
exhausted,  and  a  party  under  Major  Grant  having  too  rashly  advanced 
was  defeated  with  great  loss.  51  Deserted  by  the  Indians,  however,  the 
garrison  had  been  reduced  to  500  men,  and  on  the  evening  before  the 
British  arrived,  setting  fire  to  the  fort,  the  French  retreated  in  boats 
down  the  Ohio  River.52  The  damage  was  soon  repaired ;  the  fort 
was  then  supplied  with  a  strong  English  garrison;  and,  in  compliment 
to  the  able  English  Minister,  that  place  was  thenceforth  designated 
Pittsburgh, 

Continual  struggles  between  the  French  and  English  had  thus  ensued, 
but  with  varying  fortune.  However,  the  English  ministry  now  resolved 
to  signalize  the  coming  year  of  1759,  by  the  complete  conquest  of  Canada. 
A  circular  letter  was  directed  by  William  Pitt  to  the  several  governors  of 
the  colonies  urging  their  co-operation ;  but,  their  resources  in  men  and 
money  had  been  greatly  exhausted  by  their  previous  efforts.  Notwith¬ 
standing,  they  were  still  ready  to  lend  generous  and  effective  assistance. 
A  triple  and  powerful  army  organization  was  again  resolved  on;  while 
the  French  possessions  were  to  be  entered  separately,  and  so  far  as 
possible  simultaneously  to  second  united  operations.  The  central  and 
main  army,  composed  of  British  and  provincials,  was  formed  under 


48  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  -History  of 
the  United  States,”  Vol.  iv.,chap  xiii. 

49  See  Garneau’s  “  Histoire  du  Cana¬ 
da,”  Tome  iii. ,  chap.  iii. 

50  See  David  Ramsey’s  “  Life  of 
George  Washington,”  &c.,  chap.  i.,p.  14, 


51  See  “  The  Annual  Register,”  &c., 
Vol.  i.,  History  of  the  Present  War, 
chap,  xiii.,  pp.  70  to  74. 

52  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,”  &c.,  Vol.  i.,  chap,  v., 

p.  101. 


EXPEDITIONS  AGAINST  CANADA 


123 


General  Amherst,  now  appointed  Commander-in-Chief.  He  was  to 
advance  against  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point ;  afterwards  the  army 
was  expected  to  fall  down  the  River  St.  Lawrence,  to  co-operate  with 
an  expedition  planned  against  Quebec.  This  latter  division  was  placed 
under  the  command  of  Brigadier-General  Wolfe,  a  young  officer  who  had 
already  distinguished  himself,  and  who,  escorted  by  a  strong  fleet,  was 
to  ascend  the  River  St  Lawrence  and  to  land  troops  for  the  seige  of  that 
strongly  fortified  town.  Under  General  Prideaux,  a  third  army,  chiefly 
formed  of  provincials  and  Indians,  was  designed  to  capture  Niagara; 
and  afterwards  embarking  on  Lake  Ontario,  these  were  to  proceed  down 
the  St.  Lawrence  to  take  possession  of  Montreal.  A  fleet  of  150  sail 
under  Admiral  Boscawen  was  designed  to  co-operate.53  The  naval 
superiority  of  England  prevented  the  French  from  sending  out  rein¬ 
forcements  to  Canada ;  and  thus  their  posts  were  then  too  feebly 
garrisoned  to  withstand  such  formidable  preparations. 

After  a  considerable  delay,  assembling  his  forces  at  Albany,  General 
Amherst  marched  for  Ticonderoga,  which  was  immediately  abandoned  bn 
the  22nd  of  July,  when  he  arrived  before  the  place.  He  then  pursued 
the  French  down  Lake  Champlain.  The  fort  at  Crown  Point  was  also 
abandoned,  as  he  approached,  and  the  French  retreated  to  Isle-aux-Nois. 
A  body  of  between  three  and  four  thousand  men,  and  a  fleet  of  several 
armed  vessels,  were  stationed  there  ;  while  a  succession  of  adverse 
storms  on  the  Lake  prevented  the  English  from  securing  a  naval 
superiority.  Thereupon,  retarded  in  his  operations  against  the  French, 
General  Amherst  was  obliged  to  take  up  his  winter  quarters  at  Crown 
Point,  where  he  built  a  fort.  Having  embarked  with  his  army  on  Lake 
Ontario,  General  Prideaux  landed  without  opposition,  on  the  6th  of 
July,  about  three  miles  from  Fort  Niagara.  This  he  now  invested,  but 
while  conducting  the  operations  of  siege,  he  was  killed  by  the  bursting 
of  a  cohorn.54  The  command  then  devolved  on  Sir  Willi  un  Johnson. 
Meantime,  a  force  of  French  and  of  Indians  had  been  mustered  for  the 
relief  of  Niagara,  and  on  the  morning  of  July  24th,  a  furious  attack 
was  made  upon  the  English,  drawn  up  in  order  of  battle,  between  the 
cataract  and  the  fortress.  The  French  were  completely  routed,  after 
an  engagement  which  lasted  nearly  for  an  hour  Next  day  the  garrison 
capitulated,  and  over  600  men  marched  out  with  the  honours  of  war, 
before  they  had  been  made  prisoners  and  carried  to  New  York  35  The 
reduction  of  that  fortress  effectually  cut  off  the  communication  between 
Canada  and  Louisiana. 

Before  these  expeditions  had  full  effect,  General  Wolfe  sailed  from 
Halifax,  and  he  ascended  the  St.  Lawrence  with  a  fleet  of  over  forty 
vessels,  conveying  an  army  of  over  8,000  men.50  In  the  channel  of 


53  See  Lord  Mahon’s  “  History  ot 
England  from  the  Peace  of  Utrecht,” 
Yol.  iv.,  chap,  xxxv.,  pp.  199,  200. 

54  See  “  History  of  the  Province  of 
Massachusetts-Bay,  from  1749  to 
1774,”  chap,  i.,  p.  77. 


55  See  “The  Annual  Register,”  &c., 
for  1759,  Yol.  ii.  History  of  the 
Present  War,  chap,  vi.,  pp.  29  to  34. 

56  “  Several  men  who  became  great 
in  the  military  or  naval  service  ac¬ 
companied  him  as  subordinates — - 


124 


IRISH-ANER1CAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


the  river,  where  it  begins  to  widen  below  Quebec,  lies  the  Island  of 
Orleans.57  There  the  troops  landed  on  the  27th  June.58  The  strong 
fortress  now  frowned  before  them,  and  built  on  a  rock,  inaccessible 
from  those  sides  approaching  the  St.  Lawrence,  while  it  was  protected 
by  walls  and  bastions,  constructed  with  great  engineering  skill  and 
judgment.  The  River  St.  Charles  drew  a  line  of  protection,  on  the 
other  side  of  approach  ;  but  at  the  top  of  that  eminence,  on  which  the 
upper  town  was  built  and  beyond  it,  extended  what  were  known  as  the 
Plains  of  Abraham.  The  garrison  was  now  under  the  immediate 
command  of  the  Marquis  of  Montcalm,  who  had  also  formed  an  en¬ 
trenched  camp  between  the  Rivers  St.  Charles  and  Montmorency. 
With  no  very  sanguine  expectations  of  ultimately  succeeding  in  his 
enterprise,  General  Wolfe  disembarked  his  troops  and  formed  two 
camps ;  one  on  the  south  side  of  the  River  St.  Lawrence,  at  Point  Levi, 
opposite  Quebec,  and  the  other  below  the  falls  of  Montmorency, 
about  nine  miles  from  the  fortress.  The  fleet  protected  both 
divisions.  An  assault  on  the  French  fortified  camp  at  Montmorency,59 
under  the  direction  of  Generals  Monckton,  Townshend  and  Murray 
proved  unsuccessful  on  the  31st  of  July,60  and  resulted  in  a  loss  of 
nearly  500  men  Their  divisions  were  afterwards  withdrawn  to  the  Island 
of  Orleans.  The  British  batteries  at  Point  Levi  destroyed  most  of  the 
lower  town  near  the  River,  but,  on  the  citadel  and  fortifications,  they 
produced  little  or  no  impression.  Other  attempts  were  made,  but  with¬ 
out  any  important  residt  being  obtained.  While  reconnoitring  those 
places  surrounding  Quebec,  General  Wolfe  had  observed  a  narrow  and 
steep  ravine  above  the  town,  and  which  led  to  the  plains  of  Abraham. 
This  he  thought  might  be  scaled,  and  he  devised  an  ingenious  plan,  to 
land  his  whole  army  at  that  place.  Owing  to  anxiety  and  exposure,  he 
was  attacked  with  fever,  but  calling  a  council  of  war  at  his  bedside,  a 
resolution  was  at  last  taken.  Nearly  the  whole  army  was  now  embarked 
on  board  of  the  fleet,  which  sailed  up  the  St.  Lawrence,  on  the  12th  of 
September.  Apprehending  from  this  movement,  that  the  invaders  might 


among  others,  Captain  Jervis,  after¬ 
wards  the  celebrated  Admiral  Earl  of 
St.  Vincent;  James  Cook,  the  famous 
navigator  and  explorer ;  Col.  Barre, 
the  Irish  Member  of  Parliament  who 
took  the  side  of  the  colonists  in  the 
debates  on  the  Stamp  Act ;  and  Carle- 
ton  and  Howe,  who  commanded  the 
British  forces  during  the  Revolution.” 
— John  R.  G.  Hassard’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States  of  America,”  chap, 
xx.,  p.  136. 

57  The  situation  of  the  respective 
corps  of  French  and  English,  with  a 
plan  of  Quebec  and  its  surroundings, 
is  delineated  on  a  Map,  accompanying 
letter-press  description,  in  Dr.  John 
Campbell’s  “Naval  History  of  Great 


Briton,  including  the  History  and 
Lives  of  the  British  Admirals,”  Vol. 
iv.,  chap,  xxiii.,  p.  414. 

58  See  Garneau’s  “  Histoire  du  Cana¬ 
da,”  Tome  iii.,  for  complete  details  of 
this  campaign. 

59  See  Lord  Mahon’s  “  History  of 
England  from  the  Treaty  of  Utrecht,” 
Vol.  iv.,  chap,  xxxv.,  pp.  239, 
240. 

60  The  intrenchments  were  construct¬ 
ed  by  the  Chevalier  de  Johnstone,  who 
had  been  previously  an  adherent  of 
Prince  Charles  Edward  Stuart  in 
Scotland,  and  who  wrote  “  Memoirs 
of  the  Rebellion  in  1745  and  1746.” 
See  p.  444  of  that  work.  Third 
edition,  London,  1822,  8vo. 


TAKING  OF  QUEBEC,  1759. 


125 


make  a  distant  descent,  and  then  march  back  on  Quebec,  Montcalm 
detached  M.  de  Bouganville  with  1,500  men  to  observe  their  motions, 
and  to  prevent  any  attempt  at  landing.  The  fleet  sailed  several  miles 
above  the  ravine.  After  nightfall,  the  soldiers  were  placed  in  the  boats, 
with  great  secrecy.  While  the  tide  was  falling,  and  with  muffled  oars, 
they  dropped  down  the  river,  and  reached  the  assigned  landing  place 
undiscovered  by  the  French.  A  captain’s  guard  and  a  battery  of  four 
guns  were  stationed  above.  The  advance  was  led  by  Colonel — after¬ 
wards  Sir  William — Howe,  and  the  surprised  French  pickets  were  easily 
dispersed.  The  main  body  of  the  attacking  force,  under  the  direction 
of  General  Wolfe,  now  clambered  with  their  arms  safely  up  the  ravine. 

Before  daylight  on  the  13th,  the  English  army  was  drawn  up  in  order 
on  the  heights.  At  this  time,  Montcalm  was  in  his  entrenchments  below 
Quebec,  but,  on  hearing  what  had  occurred,  he  soon  made  arrangements 
for  a  decisive  battle.61  He  crossed  the  River  St.  Charles,  intending  to 
outflank  the  English  army,  while  1,500  Canadians  and  Indians,  excellent 
marksmen  and  screened  by  thickets,  opened  the  battle.  The  English 
veteran  soldiers  were  well  posted  and  prepared  for  the  onset.  After  an 
hour’s  cannonading,  accompanied  by  an  unsuccessful  attempt  of  Mont¬ 
calm  to  turn  the  enemy’s  left  and  to  force  him  into  the  river,  the  French 
made  an  impetuous  charge  on  the  English  line.  This  was  firmly  met, 
and  vigorously  repulsed.  The  English  General  Wolfe,  exposed  in  front 
of  his  battalions,  had  been  twice  wounded  during  the  engagement ;  but 
he  refused  to  leave  the  field,  until  a  third  ball  pierced  his  breast,  and 
this  wound  proved  mortal.  The  command  now  devolved  on  General 
Monckton,  who  was  also  severely  wounded  through  the  body,  and  in 
turn,  he  yielded  the  command  to  General  Townshend.  While  fighting 
bravely  at  the  head  of  his  troops,  Montcalm  received  his  death-wound, 
while  his  second  in  command  General  Senezergus  also  fell.  The  right 
and  centre  of  the  French  then  gave  way,  their  corps  of  regulars  being 
almost  entirely  annihilated.  The  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  very 
considerable.62 

After  the  battle  fought  on  the  Heights  of  Abraham,  the  fall  of 
Quebec  soon  followed.63  While  preparations  were  making  for  its  siege, 
on  the  17th  of  September,  it  was  surrendered  to  the  English.04  That 
town  was  still  strongly  fortified,  and  hopes  for  its  relief  from  Montreal 
might  have  been  expected.  However,  the  garrison  and  inhabitants 
capitulated,  on  condition  that  they  should  enjoy  their  own  civil  and 


61  He  has  been  blamed  for  rashly 
engaging  in  this  battle  rather  than 
sustaining  a  siege  within  the  walls  of 
Quebec.  See  Ludovic  Lalanne’s 
“  Dictionnaire  Historique  de  la  France,” 
p.  1301,  Paris,  1872.  Royal  8vo. 

62  That  of  the  French  in  killed,  wound¬ 
ed,  and  prisoners  has  been  estimated 
at  1,500,  and  that  of  the  English  at 
640,  in  Lord  Mahon’s  “  History  of 


England  from  the  Treaty  of  Utrecht,” 
Vol.  iv.,  chap,  xxxv.,  p.  249. 

62  See  the  “  Historical  Account  of 
Quebec  in  North  America,  its  Con¬ 
quest,  Motives  for  sending  the  Troops 
to  North  America.”  Account  of  the 
Society  for  the  Relief  of  the  Widows 
of  such  as  died  at  the  Battle  of 
Quebec.  Printed  in  1760,  8vo. 

64  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  iv.,  chap.  xiv. 


126  IRISU-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

religious  rights.65  An  English  garrison  of  5,000  men  was  left  in 
possession,  under  the  command  of  General  Murray.66  Afterwards,  the 
beet  sailed  away  down  the  Biver  St.  Lawrence  for  England. 

The  French  held  possession  notwithstanding  of  Montreal  and  of 
Upper  Canada,  so  that  the  contest  was  yet  prolonged.  A  considerable 
portion  of  the  French  army  had  retreated  thither,  after  the  battle  on 
the  heights  of  Abraham.  On  the  death  of  Montcalm,  M.  de  Levi 
succeeded  to  the  chief  command,  and  he  resolved  on  the  recovery  of 
Quebec.  When  the  upper  part  of  the  St.  Lawrence  was  free  from  ice, 
in  the  month  of  April,  1760,  he  fell  down  the  river,  from  Montreal 
with  such  an  army  as  he  could  collect.  With  a  convoy  of  six  frigates, 
having  artillery,  with  military  stores  and  supplies  on  board,  he  landed 
and  arrived  with  his  army  at  Point  au  Tremble,  within  a  few  miles  of 
Quebec.  General  Murray  with  an  inferior  force  moved  out  to  meet 
him,  and  near  Sillery,  on  the  28th  of  April,  he  attacked  the  French  ; 
but,  after  a  fierce  encounter  and  finding  himself  outflanked,  he  called 
off  the  British  troops;  when,  with  a  loss  of  nearly  1,000  men,  he 
retreated  to  the  fortress.67  A  siege  was  then  commenced  by  M.  de 
Levi ;  but,  the  guns  were  scarcely  brought  to  play  from  one  side  to  the 
other,  when  a  British  fleet  hove  in  sight,  and  this  armament  obliged 
the  French  to  retire  hastily  on  Montreal.68.  The  Governor-General  of 
Canada  the  Marquis  de  Yaudreuil  had  then  called  thither  all  his  out¬ 
posts  and  detachments,  with  a  numerous  militia,  determined  to  make  a 
last  effort.  But,  General  Amherst69  had  now  concentrated  an  immense 
army  before  Montreal.  It  should  be  only  a  useless  sacrifice  of  life  to 
contend  longer,  and  the  French  were  obliged  to  surrender  that  town. 
A  capitulation  was  entered  upon  between  the  rival  commanders,  and 
signed  on  the  8th  of  September  1760.  The  Canadians  were  allowed 
to  preserve  their  properties  and  the  free  exercise  of  the  Catholic 
religion.  70  By  the  terms  of  surrender,  Detroit,  Michilimackinac,  and 
all  the  western  territories  claimed  by  the  French,  were  relinquished.71 
Afterwards,  the  final  conquest  of  Canada  was  secured  by  the  English.72 

Attempts  to  control  the  resources  of  a  region,  so  vast  and  unex¬ 
plored  as  that  claimed  by  France  in  America,  certainly  required  a  saga¬ 
city  of  mind  and  an  enduring  firmness  of  purpose,  wli.ch  would  seem  to 


''See  “The  Annual  Register,”  &c., 
1759,  Vol.  ii.  History  of  the  Present 
War,  chap,  vii.,  pp.  35  to  42. 

66  See  Thomas  Hutchinson’s  “  His¬ 
tory  of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts- 
Bay,  from  1749  to  1774,”  chap,  i., 
p.  ‘79. 

67  See  Lord  Mahon’s  “  History  of 
England,  from  the  Peace  of  Utrecht,” 
Vol.  iv. ,  chap,  xxxvi.,  pp.  286,  287. 

68  See  “  The  Annual  Register,”  &c., 
for  1760,  Vol.  iii.,  History  of  the 
Present  War,  chap,  ii.,  pp.  5  to  9. 

69  For  his  military  services,  this 


victorious  general  wras  appointed  Com¬ 
mander-in- Chief  and  Governor-General 
of  the  different  American  provinces. 
In  1776,  he  received  the  title  of  Baron 
Amherst  of  Homesdale,  Kent. 

70  See  Henri  Martin’s  “  Histoire  de 
France,”  Tome  xv.,  Liv.  xcviii.,  p.  553. 

71  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  iv.,  chap, 
xvi. 

72  See  “  The  Annual  Register,”  &c., 
for  the  year  1760,  Vol.  iii.  History 
of  the  Present  War,  chap,  xi.,  pp. 
57  to  60. 


2a? 


THE  TREATY  OF  PARIS. 


\2\ 


have  impelled  a  Columbus  to  the  discovery  of  a  new  continent,  and  to 
have  prompted  such  devoted  men  as  Marquette,  Cartier,  La  Salle  and 
Hennepin,  to  the  dangerous  tasks  which  they  undertook,  and  carried 
out  with  such  patience  and  daring.  In  the  year  1762,  M.  D'Abadie, 
invested  with  extraordinary  powers  by  the  French  Government,  was 
constituted  Director-General,  as  also  Civil  and  Military  Commandant, 
over  the  whole  Province  of  Louisiana. 

Peace  was  concluded  at  Paris,  and  proclaimed  in  1763.  By  this 
treaty,  England  remained  possessor  of  the  Atlantic  Colonies,  the 
Canadas,  and  Louisiana,  lying  east  of  the  Mississippi,  except  the  town 
of  New  Orleans  and  its  territory.  The  public  profession  and  exercise  of 
the  Catholic  religion  was  sanctioned,  as  the  articles  of  capitulation  had 
decreed,  in  Canada  and  throughout  the  western  ranges.73  known  as  the 
country  of  the  Illinois,74  England  also  acquired  Florida  from  Spain,  in 
exchange  for  Havana,75  which  had  been  captured  during  the  mid¬ 
summer  of  1762. 76 

During  this  year,  the  first  French  village  was  established  upon  the 
north  bank  of  the  Missouri  river.  This  was  named  Village  du  Cote — 
now  it  is  known  as  St.  Charles — a  short  distance  above  the  junction 
with  the  Mississippi.  It  was  soon  found  to  be  impossible,  owing  to  the 
great  extent  of  canoe  navigation  extending  from  Quebec  to  points  more 
than  1,000  miles  up  the  Missouri,  for  single  individuals  to  prosecute 
that  trade.  Hence  the  necessity  for  companies  being  established,  by 
which  general  traffic  was  always  most  successfully  conducted.  For  this 
purpose  new  combinations  were  required.  Trading  posts  and  stockaded 
forts  were  established  by  enterprising  men,  and  agents  were  found  to 
occupy  them,  so  that  the  hunters  and  trappers  might  find  convenient 
stations,  where  furs  and  peltries  could  be  bought  and  deposited.  The 
Indians  learned  to  participate  in  the  advantages  thus  provided ;  and,  it 
was  usually  the  first  step  in  the  process  of  civilization.  The  creole  and 
half-breed  hunters  were  their  counsellors,  interpreters  and  confederates. 
These  energetic  men  carried  on  for  several  years  an  extensive  and  a 
profitable  business,  during  which  they  traversed  every  part  of  the 
country,  from  the  lower  to  the  head  waters  of  the  Mississippi  and  the 
Missouri  rivers,  to  the  southern  branches  of  the  Columbia,  while  they 
ransacked  nearly  the  whole  of  California. 

It  was  in  view  of  the  productive  capacities  and  the  resources  of 
Occidental  Louisiana,  or  rather  of  the  Illinois,  as  this  region  was  then 
called,  that  Pierre  Laclede — to  which  in  documents  yet  extant  he  was 
accustomed  to  add  Liguest — obtained  from  M.  D’Abadie,  on  behalf  of 
himself  and  of  others,  the  exclusive  privilege  and  the  “  necessary  powers 


73  See  Smith’s  “  History  of  Canada  ; 
from  its  first  discovery  to  the  Peace 
of  1765,”  Vol.  i.,  pp.  367  to  369. 
Quebec,  1815,  8vo. 

74  See  Brown’s  “  History  of  Illi¬ 
nois,”  pp.  212,  213.  New  York,  1844, 
Sso. 


76  See  Alexander  Von  Humboldt’s 
“  Essai  politique  sur  le  Royaume  de 
la  Nouvelle  Espagne.”  Paris,  1808, 
1809,  4 to. 

76  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  iv.,  chap, 
xix. 


128  IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OP  TIIE  UNITED  STATES. 


to  trade  with  the  Indians  of  the  Missouri  and  with  those  west  of  the 
Mississippi  above  the  Missouri,  so  far  north  as  the  River  St.  Peter.” 
Such  a  comprehensive  charter  may  have  been  granted  by  M.  D’Abadie, 
more  through  reasons  of  governmental  policy,  than  from  motives  of 
personal  kindness  and  friendship.  The  “  Louisiana  Fur  Company  ” 
was  the  name  given  to  the  association  of  Pierre  Laclede  Ligust  and  of  his 
companions  The  extension  of  settlements  in  Upper  Louisiana  en¬ 
sured  an  enlargement  of  French  commerce  and  power,  and  it  strengthened 
a  claim  to  the  exclusive  right  of  navigating  the  Mississippi,  which  was 
even  then  entertained.77 

By  a  secret  treaty,  that  country  lying  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
then  designated  Louisiana,  had  been  ceded  by  France  to  Spain,  on  the 
3rd  of  November,  1762.  However,  owing  to  the  vast  distances  to  be 
travelled,  the  want  of  enterprising  Spanish  settlers,  and  a  sufficiency  of 
tro  ps  to  hold  military  possession,  until  1768  it  remained  undei  French 
laws  and  French  jurisdiction.78  The  lead  trade  of  the  West,  which  was 
mostly  concentrated  at  Ste.  Genevieve,  and  the  commerce  in  oils  and 
peltries,  which  was  in  a  measure  monopolized  by  the  neighbouring  small 
settlements  and  villages,  still  left  abundant  room  for  development  of  the 
resources  and  capabilities  of  the  upper  Missouri  and  Mississippi  Rivers, 
with  the  countries  bordering  upon  them.  The  French  colonists  were  men 
of  tried  intrepidity  and  sagacity ; 79  so  that  difficulties  and  dangers  were 
alike  disregarded  in  the  pursuit  of  fame  and  fortune. 

The  transfer  of  possession  in  the  Illinois  country,  from  the  French 
to  the  English  control,  was  not  pleasant  to  a  race  of  men  whose  tastes, 
habits,  religion  and  feelings  were  so  much  at  war  with  those  of  their 
new  masters  ;  and,  it  is  not  a  matter  of  surprise,  that  the  descendants 
of  those  who  battled  against  the  British  crown  in  many  a  well-fought 
field  should  leave  their  altars  and  fire-sides,  and  seek  as  they  did  upon 
the  western  side  of  the  Mississippi  River  an  abiding  place,  where 
nought  should  recall  to  their  minds  the  idea  of  subjection  to  a  national 
if  not  a  natural  foe.  Along  the  line  of  trail,  connecting  the  scattered 
settlements  and  villages  of  the  Illinois  with  the  older  and  more  populous 
towns  of  Canada,  the  French  hastened  in  thousands  to  escape  from 
British  rule.  As  yet,  nothing  in  reality  was  known  regarding  their 


77  At  a  subsequent  period,  this  pri¬ 
vilege  became  a  subject  of  protracted 
and  of  unpleasant  negotiation,  be¬ 
tween  the  American  States  and  Spain, 
when  the  former  had  achieved  their 
National  Independence. 

78  So  early  as  April,  1764,  M. 
D’Abadie,  the  Governor-General,  had 
been  directed  to  proclaim  to  the  colo¬ 
nists,  that  international  arrangement 
which  had  taken  place,  and,  it  is 
said,  his  death  was  hastened  through 
grief  from  France  having  lost  her 
fine  province  of  Louisiana.  See 


\ 

Henri  Martin’s  “  Histoire  de  France,” 
Tome  xv.,  Liv.  xcviii.,  p.  595. 

79  In  Pierre  Liguest  Laclede  was 
found  a  combination  of  those  high 
qualities,  which  were  required  for  such 
daring  undertakings.  But,  we  are 
left  to  deplore,  that  in  the  history  of 
such  a  man,  we  can  only  start  with 
the  record  of  an  act,  eventful  in  the 
annals  of  Missouri,  and  say  that  at  a 
fitting  time,  he  had  been  sent  forth 
as  the  moving  cause  of  great  and 
wonderful  results. 


INDIAN  CONSPIRACY. 


129 


cession  to  Spain,  by  the  inhabitants  of  Louisiana  for  nearly  three  years 
after  its  occurrence  ;  hence  a  mistake  was  made  probably  when  the  fur- 
trader  Pierre  Laclede  Liguest  named  St.  Louis  in  honour  of  Louis  XV., 
whose  subject  he  expected  to  remain  for  a  number  of  years,  although 
he  was  then  really  subject  to  the  King  of  Spain.  The  inhabitants 
of  New  Orleans  indignantly  drove  the  Captain-General  Don  Antonio 
D’Olloa,  with  the  Spanish  troops,  from  the  portion  of  the 
territory  in  1766,  when  that  secret  treaty  became  known.  Under 
the  provisions  of  the  Treaty  of  Paris,  Fort  de  Chartres  was  abandoned 
by  the  Commandant,  a  Canadian  Frenchman,  Captain  St.  Ange 
de  Belle  Rive,  and  by  the  French  garrison  in  1765.  The  English, 
under  Captain  Sterling,  entered  upon  its  possession,  but  with  great 
repugnance  on  the  part  of  the  original  colonists.  Meanwhile,  the 
French  province  of  Louisiana  had  been  secretly  transferred  by 
treaty  to  Spain.  This,  however,  was  not  then  known  to 
the  French  Colonists  on  the  Upper  Mississippi.  Accordingly, 
St.  Ange  removed  with  his  officers  and  about  forty  soldiers  of  his 
garrison  to  St.  Louis,  on  the  17th  of  July  1765.  There,  by  acclaim  of 
the  inhabitants,  he  was  invested  with  civil  and  military  power  over 
Upper  Louisiana.  He  began  to  make  numerous  grants  of  land  to 
settlers,  and  these  titles  were  not  afterwards  disturbed  by  the  Spaniards. 
They  were  confirmed,  likewise,  by  the  United  States,  at  a  later  period. 
Then  the  town  of  St.  Louis  was  regarded  as  the  capital  of  Upper 
Louisiana.80 

The  celebrated  Indian  Ottawa  Chief  Pontiac,81  who  was  attached 
to  French  rule,  endeavoured  to  effect  the  overthrow  of  English  power 
in  Canada,  by  a  confederacy  of  the  Algonquin  tribes,  after  the  war 
had  ended.  He  organized  an  immense  conspiracy,  embracing  Indians 
from  Lake  Superior  to  Georgia,  when  a  simultaneous  attack  was  made 
on  several  English  frontier  posts.  For  five  months  he  besieged 
Detroit82  until  it  was  relieved  by  a  large  force  of  provincials.83  When 
he  failed  in  several  desperate  attempts  made  in  Michigan,  he 
withdrew  to  Illinois  in  A.D.  1764. 84  There,  too,  he  endeavoured  to 


80  When  at  all  practicable,  the 
Catholic  Church  aims  at  accordance 
with  national  feelings  and  civil 
polity.  Hence,  with  political 

changes,  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction  was 
transferred  from  the  diocese  of  Que¬ 
bec.  The  missions  of  Louisiana  were 
attached  to  the  See  of  Cuba.  About 
that  time,  the  French  Director- 
General  over  Louisiana  M.  D’Abadie 
died,  and  St.  Ange  assumed  the  di¬ 
rection  of  civil  and  military  affairs 
wnen  he  arrived  at  St  Louis.  Long 
after  he  was  nominally  superseded, 
his  personal  influence  there  procured 
for  him  respect  and  obedience. 


81  For  an  Indian,  he  was  a  remark¬ 
ably  well-looking  man  ;  he  was  nice 
in  his  person,  and  full  of  taste  in  his 
dress,  and  in  the  arrangement  of  his 
war  ornaments.  His  complexion 
approached  that  of  the  whites. 

8-  See  Franklin  B.  Hough’s  “  Diary 
of  the  Siege  of  Detroit  in  the  War 
with  Pontiac.”  Albany,  1860. 

83  A  very  interesting  account  of  this 
formidable  Indian  war  may  be  found 
in  “  The  Annual  Register,”  &c.,  for 
the  year  1763,  Vol  vi.  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  v.,  vi.,  pp.  18  to  32. 

84  Francis  Parkman,  jun.,  has  writ¬ 
ten  a  “  History  of  the  Conspiracy  of 

K 


130 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


excite  the  natives  to  resist  a  surrender  of  the  French  post,  under 
the  treaty,  to  British  authority.  He  hastened  with  some  of  his  Indian 
warriors  to  Fort  Chartres,85  where  he  endeavoured  to  persuade  the 
governor  M.  St.  Ange  de  Bellerive  to  adopt  his  designs.  The 
latter  was  an  officer  of  great  bravery,  yet  too  honourable  a  man 
to  be  seduced  by  those  persuasions.  But,  before  Pontiac  or  his 
Indians  had  time  to  offer  any  resistance,  Captain  Sterling  with  a  com¬ 
pany  of  Scots  arrived  unexpectedly,  and  took  possession  of  the  Fort. 
Still,  M.  St.  Ange  and  M.  Laclede  had  much  difficulty  in  recon¬ 
ciling  the  Indian  chief  to  yield  submission,  as  no  adequate  means  were 
afforded  for  further  resistance.  Pontiac’s  usual  residence  was  in  St.  Louis, 
after  the  failure  of  his  operations  against  the  English.  However, 
in  1769, 86  having  imprudently  ventured  on  a  I’eturn  to  Illinois,87  he 
was  treacherously  assassinated.88  This  murder  roused  the  vengeance 
of  all  the  Indian  tribes  friendly  to  Pontiac.  It  brought  about  succes¬ 
sive  wars,  and  the  almost  total  extermination  of  the  Illinois  tribes. 

A  Spanish  officer  named  Rious  soon  arrived  at  St,  Louis,  with  some 
Spanish  troops.  These  were  probably  soldiers,  who  had  been  driven 
out  of  New  Orleans  by  the  French.  In  the  name  of  his  Catholic 
Majesty,  Rious  took  formal  possession  of  Upper  Louisiana,  on  the  11th 
of  August  1768.  Yet,  there  appears  to  be  no  record  left,  to  prove  his 
exercise  of  any  civil  authority  there,  as  St.  Ange  continued  to  dis¬ 
charge  official  functions,  for  a  long  time  afterwards  ;  and,  on  the  17th 
of  July  1769,  Rious  with  his  troops  evacuated  Upper  Louisiana,  and 
returned  to  New  Orleans.  Meantime,  those  French  inhabitants,  to 
whom  we  have  already  alluded,  continued  in  their  state  of  revolt,  until 
the  Irish-born  Governor  of  Louisiana  Count  O’Reilly  arrived  there.89 
This  Governor,  then  sent  to  take  possession  of  Louisiana  for  the  Spanish 


Pontiac  and  the  war  of  the  North 
American  Tribes  against  the  English 
Colonies  after  the  conquest  of 
Canada.”  Published  at  Boston,  1851, 
8vo. 

85  Near  the  present  site  of  Kaskas 
kia,  on  the  Illinois  shore  of  the  Mis¬ 
sissippi  River.  The  French  flag  was 
not  lowered  there  until  1765.  See 
Farmer’s  “  History  of  Detroit  and 
Michigan,”  p.  234.  Detroit,  1884, 
8vo. 

86  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  v.,  p.  64. 

87  One  day  in  1769,  he  came  to  M. 
St.  Ange  and  told  him  of  a  desire  he 
had  to  visit  the  Kaskaskia  Indians. 
M.  St.  Ange  wished  to  dissuade  him 
from  it,  reminding  him  of  the  unfriend¬ 
ly  feeling  of  the  British  occupants. 
Pontiac’s  answer  was :  “  Captain,  I 
am  a  man  ;  I  know  how  to  fight.  I 
have  always  fought  openly.  They 


will  not  murder  me ;  and  if  any  one 
attack  me  as  a  brave  man,  I  am  his 
match.”  He  went  off  to  an  Indian 
entertainment  at  Cahokia,  ;  he  was 
feasted,  and  then  he  got  drunk.  He 
retired  into  a  wood,  where  he  was 
struck  by  a  Kaskaskian  Indian  with 
a  packamagon  or  war  club.  The 
skull  was  completely  fractured,  and 
death  ensued.  An  English  merchant 
named  Williamson  had  bribed,  it  was 
said,  the  ruffian  murderer  with  a  bar¬ 
rel  of  rum,  and  the  promise  of  a  still 
greater  reward,  if  he  executed  that 
barbarous  deed. 

88  The  dead  body  of  the  murdered 
chief  wu  brought  by  his  friends  to 
St.  Louis,  where  it  was  interred  near 
a  fort,  which  once  stood  not  far  away 
from  the  present  intersection  of 
Broadway  and  Cherry  Streets.  * 

89  See  Barbe-Marbois’  “  Histoire  de 
la  Louisiane,”  p.  147 


SPANISH  OCCUPATION  OP  LOUISIANA. 


131 


King,  had  the  following  list  of  titles:  “Don  Alexander  O’Railly, 
Commander  of  Benfayon,  of  the  order  of  Alcantara,  Lieutenant-General 
of  the  Armies  of  His  Most  Catholic  Majesty,  Inspector  General  of 
Infantry,  and  by  Commission,  Governor  and  Captain-General  of  the 
Province  of  Louisiana.” 90  At  once,  he  took  possession  of  Lower 
Louisiana ;  but,  he  enforced  submission  from  the  disaffected  leaders,  by 
acts  of  great  severity.  Doubtless,  Rious  aided  the  Governor,  with 
those  troops  he  had  withdrawn  from  St.  Louis,  as  the  settlers  there 
peacefully  yielded  to  the  new  domination  of  the  Governor  and  the 
Intendant-General,  O’Reilly  immediately  established  Jaws  for  the 
regulation  of  the  whole  Province-91  In  the  year  1770.  and  on  the  29th 
of  November,  the  Lieutenant-Governor  Don  Pedro  Piernas  arrived  at 
St.  Louis,  and  he  became  the  Civil  and  Military  Commandant  of  Upper 
Louisiana.  But,  it  does  not  appear  from  any  record  or  other  evidence, 
that  he  entered  upon  the  exercise  of  his  functions,  until  the  month  of 
February  following.  The  French  inhabitants — soon  joined  by  a 
Spanish  element  of  population — were  readily  reconciled  to  the  change 
of  dominion,  for  Piernas  tempered  all  his  official  acts  with  a  spirit  of 
mildness  and  wisdom.  This  procedure  characterised  the  course  of 
nearly  all  his  successors.  Such  measures  were,  indeed,  imperatively 


90  Count  O’Reilly  was  bom  1722  at 
Baltrasna,  in  the  County  of  Meath. 
He  entered  the  Spanish  service  with 
the  rank  of  Sub-Lieutenant,  in  the 
Hibernian  Regiment.  He  served  in 
Italy,  where  he  received  a  wound, 
which  though  it  lamed  him  for  life 
did  not  incapacitate  him  for  service. 
In  1757,  he  resigned  his  commission, 
passed  over  into  the  Austrian  army, 
and  distinguished  himself  against  the 
Prussians,  at  Hochkirchen  in  1758. 
The  following  year,  he  entered  the 
French  service,  and  assisted  at  the 
Battle  of  Bergin  in  1759,  and  at  the 
taking  of  Minden  and  Corbach.  He 
re-entered  the  Spanish  service,  was 
made  Lieutenant-General,  and  in  the 
war  against  Portugal  defeated  the  army 
of  the  latter  power  at  Chaves  in  1762. 
The  advent  of  an  English  army  under 
Burgoyne  checked  the  Spanish  suc¬ 
cesses,'  though  it  gave  O’Reilly  oppor¬ 
tunity  to  face  the  foe  he  hated  most ; 
but,  the  peace  of  Paris  in  1763  put  an 
end  to  the  war,  and  deprived  him  of 
active  military  employment.  In  1765, 
he  saved  the  life  of  the  King  Charles 
III.,  during  a  popular  tumult  in  Ma¬ 
drid.  Restored  to  rank  and  position 
in  the  army,  he  proceeded  to  remodel 
it.  He  introduced  the  tactics  and  dis¬ 
cipline  which  he  had  observed  and 


learned  while  in  Germany.  Promoted 
to  be  Field-Marshal,  he  was  subse¬ 
quently  sent  to  Havana,  which  he 
newly  fortified  and  strengthened. 
Later  still,  he  was  sent  in  June  1768, 
to  take  possession  of  Louisiana,  ceded 
to  Spain  by  France  under  the  treaty 
of  1762.  On  his  return  to  Spain,  he  was 
made  Governor  of  Madrid,  and  he  was 
later  selected  to  command  an  expedi¬ 
tion  against  Algiers.  He  was  subse¬ 
quently  appointed  Governor  of  Cadiz 
and  Captain-General  of  Andalusia.  In 
consequence  of  a  cabal  raised 
against  him  by  native  officers 
in  1786,  O’Reilly  was  deprived 
of  all  his  offices  and  employments, 
and  reduced  to  a  pension.  He  how¬ 
ever,  was  again  restored  to  his  posi¬ 
tion  and  command ;  when  in  1794, 
being  then  72  years  of  age,  he  was  ap¬ 
pointed  to  the  command  of  the  Army 
of  the  Eastern  Pyrenees,  but  he  died 
on  his  wav  to  the  camp,  near  Chin- 
chill,  the  23rd  of  March  1794,  fully 
vindicated,  as  also  crowned  with  years 
and  honours. 

81  In  consquence  of  his  severity,  he 
made  many  enemies  in  Louisiana,  and 
in  1769  he  was  recalled  to  Spain.  See 
Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of  American 
Biography,”  Vol.  iv.,  p.  586. 


132  IRISH  AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

required,  and  especially  towards  men,  who  had  come  with  ill-humour 
under  the  Spanish  power,  and  who  would  not  otherwise  have 
hesitated  to  follow  the  example,  already  set  by  their  countrymen  at 
New  Orleans.  A  policy  thus  pursued  brought  with  it  the  strongest 
attachment  to  Spain.  The  just  administration  of  the  Spanish  Govern¬ 
ment  in  St.  Louis,  as  also  the  liberal  spirit  with  which  grants  of 
valuable  lands  were  made,  in  connection  with  the  advantages  which  the 
trade  of  the  country  presented,  soon  attracted  emigration  from  the 
Canadas  and  from  Lower  Louisiana.  Settlements  were  formed,  like¬ 
wise,  along  the  Missouri  and  Mississippi  rivers. 


CHAPTER  X. 


iState  of  the  colonies  after  the  Seven  Years’  War— French  in  the  Western  Territories 
— Irish  Colonists  during  the  Reign  of  George  III. — Taxation  of  the  Colonies— 
Resistance — Repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act — -Renewal  of  the  Taxation  and  Disturb¬ 
ances  in  the  Colonies — Excisable  Tea  thrown  into  the  Harbour  of  Boston — Re¬ 
taliation — Assembling  and  proceedings  of  the  First  or  Old  Revolutionary  Con¬ 
gress. 


Hitherto  the  newly  founded  provinces  were  loyal  to  the  respective 
countries  on  which  they  depended.  After  the  Seven  Years’  War  had 
ceased,  besides  the  possession  of  those  large  territories  won  from  France 
and  Spain,1  there  were  thirteen  district  colonies,2  viz.,  Virginia,  New 
Hampshire,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina, 
Georgia — royal  provinces  directly  subject  to  the  King  ;  Massachusetts, 
Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut — possessing  charters  from  the  Crown ; 
Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  in  which  latter  Delaware  was  then  in¬ 
cluded — proprietary  provinces  and  ruled  by  their  proprietors  under 
authority  of  the  original  grants.3  All  the  colonies  received  their 
Governors  from  the  Crown,  except  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island ;  in 
all,  however,  causes  were  carried  by  appeal  from  the  Colonial  Courts  to 
the  English  Privy  Council.  But  practically,  each  colony  was  a  self- 
governing  commonwealth,  left  to  manage  its  own  affairs,  and  with 
scarcely  any  interference  from  the  mother  country.  However,  acts  of 
the  British  Parliament  ran  there,  and  these  were  assumed  to  over-rule 
such  laws  as  the  colonists  might  make.4 

o 


1  See  “  Account  of  the  European 
Settlements  in  America,  its  Discovery 
by  Columbus,  Manners  and  Customs  of 
the  original  inhabitants,”  &c.  London, 
Two  vols.  with  Map,  1760,  8vo. 

2  For  an  account  of  them,  the  reader 
is  referred  to  “  The  American  Gazet¬ 
teer,  containing  an  Account  of  all 
Parts  of  the  New  World,  the  Cities, 
Towns,  Bavs,  Rivers,  Lakes,  Fortifi¬ 


cations,”  &c.  London,  Three  vols. 
with  Maps,  1762,  12mo. 

3  The  condition  of  the  colonies  after 
the  war  is  described  with  very  happy 
illustrations  in  the  very  able  work  of 
William  Edward  Hartepole  Lecky, 
“  History  of  England  in  the  Eigh¬ 
teenth  Century.”  Vol.  iii.,  chap  xii. 
London,  1878,  et  seq.  8vov 

4  See  James  Bryce’s  admirable  work, 


RESTRICTIONS  OF  COLONIAL  COMMERCE. 


133 


The  treasury  of  England  had  been  almost  exhausted,  after  tlie  late 
war,  and  her  trade  had  become  depressed.5  While  England  main¬ 
tained  the  obstinate  and  expensive  Seven  Years’  War,  which  had 
increased  her  national  debt  to  the  amount  of  £148,000,000,  the  colonists 
other  Trans-Atlantic  possessions  rendered  her  the  most  effective  and  valu¬ 
able  aid.6  They  had  lost  30,000  soldiers  in  her  service.  They  had  like¬ 
wise  materially  contributed,  by  spending  16,000,000  dollars,7  and  by  in¬ 
curring  heavy  debts.  Asuccessful  issuefor  the  mother  country  was  mainly 
owing  to  those  efforts.8  Now  it  was  maintained  by  the  Court  party, 
that  the  late  war  had  originated,  or  had  been  conducted,  mainly  on 
account  of  the  colonies,9  Wherefore,  a  resolution  was  taken,  to  raise  a 
substantial  revenue  from  them.  When  that  war  had  ceased,  agricul¬ 
ture,  commerce  and  trade  in  the  colonies  were  found  to  be  in  a  de¬ 
pressed  condition.  The  whole  population — slaves  included — scarcely 
numbered  two  millions.  Nevertheless,  intellectual,10  intelligent,  active 
and  spirited  individuals,  composed  those  semi- independent  although 
scattered  colonial  communities.  These  deemed  themselves  worthy  of 
every  reasonable  indulgence,  and  freedom  from  commercial  restraints, 
to  which  their  position  and  increasing  navigation  entitled  them.11 

It  was  the  settled  policy  of  England  to  keep  them  in  a  state  of 
dependence  ;  since  their  aspirations  for  self-government  had  excited 
jealousy  and  distrust  of  their  motives,  on  more  than  one  occasion. 
Their  enterprise  and  manufacturing  skill,  combined  with  industry,  soon 
led  to  creditable  and  promising  efforts  in  various  branches  of  business. 
The  English  manufacturers  and  merchants  dreaded  the  extension  of 
such  industrial  and  commercial  transactions  desiring  to  hav°  a  mono¬ 
poly  of  colonial  trade.  The  colonies  were  designed  to  be  drained  of 
their  agricultural  products  and  raw  materials.  They  were  expected  in 
return  to  receive  only  imported  and  manufactured  goods.  The  English 
government  had  already  imposed  various  restrictions  on  Irish  manu¬ 
facturing  and  commercial  industries ;  while  the  Irish  Parliament, 
paralysed  through  the  agencies  of  corruption  and  intrigue,  was  com¬ 
pletely  dependent  on  the  Crown  and  the  ministers.12  To  prevent  all 


“  The  American  Commonwealth,”  Vol. 
i.  chap,  iii.,  p.  22.  London  and  New 
York,  Macmillan,  1888,  8vo. 

5  See  “The  Annual  Register”  Vol. 
ix.,  for  the  year  1766,  The  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  vi.,  pp.  31  to  34. 

6  See  Grahame’s  “History  of  the 
United  States  of  North  America,”  Vol. 
iv.,  Book  x. 

7  Of  this  amount,  the  home  Govern¬ 
ment  refunded  only  5,000,000  dollars. 

8  See  Robert  Rogers’  “  Concise  Ac¬ 

count  of  North  America,  Description 
of  the  British  Colonies,  the  several 
Nations  ana  Tribes  of  Indians,  Cus¬ 
toms,  Manners,”  &c.  1765,  8vo. 


9  See  J.  Wynne’s  “  History  of  the 
British  Empire  in  America.”  Lon¬ 
don,  1770.  Two  vols.  8vo. 

10  This  characteristic  of  the  colonies 
is  amply  shown  in  the  “  History  of 
American  Literature  from  a.d.  1607 
to  1765,”  by  M.  C.  Tyler,  Professor  of 
the  University  of  Michigan.  London, 
Two  vols.  royal  8vo. 

11  See  Benson  J.  LosC.ng’s  “Picto¬ 
rial  Field  Book  of  the  Revolution.” 
This  valuable  and  beautifully  illustra¬ 
ted  work  was  published  at  New  York, 
in  two  Royal  8vo.  volumes. 

,2*See  these  particulars  very  well 
stated  and  developed  in  “  Memoirs  of 


134 


IRISH -AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


competition  with  English  manufacturers  and  merchants,  on  the  part 
of  the  colonists,  now  became  an  object  of  chief  concern  for  the  home 
government ;  and  measures  were  taken  to  prohibit,  not  alone  an  ex¬ 
port  traffic  with  other  countries,  but  even  to  proscribe  home  manu¬ 
factures  for  purposes  of  mutual  exchange  in  the  different  plantations. 
Besides,  Navigation  Acts  were  passed,  which  made  it  unlawful  for  the 
colonists  to  build  ships  or  to  trade  with  any  other  country  but  Eng¬ 
land.13  Nor  could  any  colony  then  trade  directly  with  another  colony,14 
so  little  was  freedom  of  commerce  permitted  by  English  mercantile 
jealousy. 

The  natural  result  of  these  measures  was  to  create  an  extensive 
contraband  traffic  in  the  colonies  with  the  West  Indies  and  with  other 
countries.  The  English  Governors  and  ships  of  war  were  quite  unable 
to  prevent  such  transactions;16  and,  in  1761,  writs  of  assistance  or 
general  search  warrants  were  issued  by  the  government,  to  enforce  their 
Acts  of  Trade.  Those  warrants  au  thorized  the  customs’  officers  to  break 
into  any  store  or  private  house,  and  to  search  for  goods,  even  on  mere 
suspicion  that  duty  had  not  been  paid  for  them.  A  stoim  of  opposition 
ensued,  especially  in  the  chief  commercial  and  manufacturing  cities  and 
towns.  In  Boston,  the  legality  of  those  writs  was  disputed  in  the  court. 
There  the  advocate-general  of  the  Crown  James  Otis16  refused  to  defend 
the  writs,  and  he  soon  threw  up  his  office,  while  a  majority  of  the  judges 
inclined  to  decide  against  their  validity.  The  chief  justice  Thomas 
Hutchinson  then  moved  for  a  delay  of  judgment,  until  communication 
with  England  had  taken  place.  The  legality  of  the  writs  was  upheld, 
as  might  have  been  anticipated ;  but,  such  was  the  popular  ferment 
awakened,  that  the  officers  could  not  attempt  their  enforcement.  In 
the  State  of  New  York,  there  was  a  proposal,  to  make  the  judges 
entirely  dependent  upon  the  pleasure  of  the  Crown.  This  unconstitu¬ 
tional  proceeding  was  counteracted  by  the  Assembly,  when  refusing  to 
grant  any  salary  to  judges  so  appointed.  The  subservient  chief  justice 
Hutchinson  17  at  this  time  enforced  by  arbitrary  construction  of  law 
the  powers  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  and,  consequently,  he  became  most 
unpopular  at  Boston,  which  at  that  time  was  the  leading  commercial 
city  in  the  colonies.  Discontent  soon  began  to  spread  among  the 
people  in  other  provinces,  especially  when  it  became  known  to  them, 
that  the  English  Ministers  had  an  intention  of  annuling  all 


the  Life  and  Times  of  the  Rt.  Hon. 
Henry  Grattan,  by  his  own  son, 
Henry  Grattan.  Esq.,  M.P.,  Vols.,i.,  ii. 

13  See  John  R.  G.  Hassard’s  “  His 
tory  of  the  United  States  of  America,’’ 
Part  iii.,  chap.  xxi. 

14  See  “Case  of  the  British  North 
ern  Colonies.”  London. 

15  See  Lord  Mahon’s  “  History  of 
England  from  th?  Peace  ot  Utrecht,” 
Voi.  v.,  chap,  xliii.,  pp.  125  to  127. 


16  See  James  Grahame’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States  of  North  America,” 
Yol.  iv.,  Book  x.,  chap,  vi.,  pp. 

to  87. 

17  The  best  defence  made  for  his 

actions  at  this  period  is  probably  that 
by  himself,  in  “  The  History  of  the 
Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay  from 
1749  to  1774,”  &c.  Yol.  i.,  chap,  ii., 
pp.  82  to  96.  * 


THE  FRENCH  IN  THE  WESTERN  TERRITORIES. 


135 


their  charters  and  of  reducing  them  to  the  condition  of  royal  govern¬ 
ments.18 


In  the  remote  west  there  were  but  six  settlements  within  a  hundred 
miles  of  the  present  site  of  St.  Lewis, about  the  middle  of  the  last  century. 
These  were  :  Kaskaskia,  situated  upon  the  Kaskaskia  River,  and  upon 
a  peninsula  five  miles  above  the  mouth  of  that  stream,  about  two  miles 
by  land  from  the  Mississippi ;  it  was  once  the  capital  of  the  Illinois 
country,  and  in  its  palmy  days  it  contained  about  3,000  inhabitants ; 19 
Fort  Chartres  which  had  been  built  twelve  miles  above  Kaskaskia ; 
Praire  du  Rochier  situated  near  Fort  Chartres;  St.  Philip  or  Little 
Village,  four  miles  above  Fort  Chartres;  Cahokia,  a  village  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Cahokia  Creek,  about  five  miles  below  the  centre  of  the 
present  city  of  St,  Louis.  St.  Genevieve  had  been  built  upon  Gabouri 
Creek,  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  about  one  mile  from  its  western  shore.20 
Soon  after  St.  Louis  was  founded,  in  1764,  it  only  contained  about  425 
i  lhabitants.21  Every  scene  around  was  then  almost  in  a  state  of  nature, 
yet  many  hunters  had  traversed  these  regions,  and  had  even  navigated 
the  Missouri,  a  thousand  miles  or  more,  long  before  the  first  log  cabins 
had  been  constructed  on  the  clearings.  These  trappers  and  hunters  of 
the  west  were  a  remarkable  race  of  men,  and  especially  those  Canadian 
French,  who  sought  adventure  and  liberty  in  the  remote  regions.22 
Endowed  with  the  most  obstinate  perseverance,  thegreatest  self-reliance, 
and  the  utmost  contempt  for  danger,  they  seemed  also  to  have  been 
actuated  by  a  feelingof  romantic  interest,  when  plunging  onwards  through 
the  trackless  forests.  Wilds  immeasurably  spread  seemed  tempting  more 
to  adventure,  as  they  surveyed  the  vast  expanse  of  this  wide  hunting 
ground.  They  resolved,  that  the  rude  barbarities  of  the  savage  should 
yield  to  the  conquering  march  of  civilization ;  although  their  own 
restless  spirits  could  ill  brook  the  settling  down  to  peaceful  agricultural 
or  mechanical  pursuits.  It  may  be  said  indeed,  that  nearly  all  the  early 
settlements  of  the  Middle  and  Western  States  were  commenced  by  the 
hunters  and  trappers.  They  navigated  every  stream,  traversed  every 
prairie  and  forest,  paddled  their  canoes  on  every  lake,  and  visited  the 
remotest  Indian  tribes.  Geography  was  indebted  to  their  indomitable 
enterprise  for  the  earliest  knowledge  we  possess  of  all  those  regions  to 
the  north  and  west.  The  Governments  of  France,  of  Spain,  and  of  the 
United  States,  owed  them  more  than  they  could  ever  hope  to  return,  for 
indispensable  services  in  making  treaties  with  the  Indians,  and  in  guiding 
exploring  expeditions  by  land.23  A  strange  fascination  appears  to  have 


18  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States,”  Vol.  iv.,  chap, 
xviii.,  pp.  412  to  431. 

19  After  the  country  had  passed  under 
the  dominion  of  the  King  of  Spain 
its  population  decreased. 

20  Among  the  earliest  settlements  of 
Missouri  were  those  formed  in  the 
present  St.  Genevieve  county.  Those 


attempts  of  pioneer  French  colonists 
date  back  to  the  year  1755. 

21  See  Barbd — Marbois’  “  Histoire  de 
la  Louisiane.” 

22  See  Garneau’s  “  Histoire  du 
Canada,”  Tome  ii.,  Quebec,  1846,  8vo. 

23  See  M.  Le  Page  du  Pratz’s  “His¬ 
tory  of  Louisiana,  or  the  Western  Parts 
of  Virginia  and  Carolina,  and  the 


136 


IRISH -AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


seized  on  them  ;  whether  single  or  in  groups,  they  braved  all  dangers  of 
the  wilderness.  No  longing  for  the  society  of  family  and  of  friends  wooed 
them  back  to  the  settled  pursuits  of  civilized  life.24  Coming  in  con  diet 
with  the  red  men  of  the  forest  and  prairie,  sometimes  in  deadly  feud, 
and  often  to  engage  them  in  traffic,  these  encounters  and  associations 
were  soon  found  to  be  attended  with  mutual  advantages,  while  the  ties 
of  interest  led  to  concessions,  which  suspicion  may  promote,  or  which 
serve  to  allay  cupidity,  in  the  rudest  and  simplest  as  in  the  most  syste¬ 
matic  or  complicated  relations  of  trade  and  commerce. 

From  the  beginning  of  George  III.’s  reign,  the  stream  of  Irish 
emigration  flowed  rapidly  towards  the  American  Colonies.25  In  Ire¬ 
land,  the  spirit  of  opposition  to  the  restrictions  placed  on  commerce, 
and  to  the  supremacy  of  English  legislation  over  domestic  concerns, 
had  already  gone  abroad  ;  and  soon  were  these  principles  propagated  in 
distant  America.  Even  the  disqualifications  of  the  Irish  Catholics26  in 
the  reign  of  Queen  Anne  were  extended  by  the  Protestant  Episcopa¬ 
lians— constituting  the  ruling  English  faction  in  the  Irish  Parliament — 
to  the  whole  body  of  Presbyterians  and  other  Dissenters.27  Soon  were 


countries  on  both  sides  of  the  Missis¬ 
sippi,”  with  Map.  Loudon,  1774,  8vo. 

24  Clad  in  buck-skins,  those  pioneers 
were  then  to  be  found  on  all  the  rivers 
east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Wild  lives 
they  led  among  the  Indians.  In  their 
mocassins,  with  wide  chests,  bronzed 
faces,  deer-skin  leggings  and  hunting 
shirts,  glittering  bowie  knives  in  their 
belts,  unerring  rifles  on  their  brawny 
arms,  powder  and  shot  pouches  pendant 
from  their  shoulder-straps,  those  hardy 
wood-rangers  recalled  the  vivid  picture 
of  Lord  Byron,  as  given  in  "Don  Juan,” 
Canto  viii.,  Stanzas  lxvi.,  lxvii. — 

“  And  tall  and  strong,  and  swift  on  foot 
were  they, 

Beyond  the  dwarfing  city’s  pale  abor¬ 
tions, 

Because  their  thoughts  had  never  been 
the  prey 

Of  care  or  gain  ;  the  green  woods  were 
their  portions  ; 

No  sinking  spirits  told  them  they  grew 
grey, 

No  fashion  made  them  apes  of  her 
distortions  ; 

Simple  they  were,  not  savage  :  and  their 
rifles, 

Though  very  true,  were  not  yet  used  for 
trifles. 

“Motion  was  in  their  days,  rest  in  their 
slumbers, 

And  cheerfulness  the  handmaid  of 
their  toil ; 


Nor  yet  too  many  nor  too  few  their 
numbers, 

Corruption  could  not  make  their 
hearts  her  soil ; 

The  lust  which  stings,  the  splendour 
which  encumbers. 

With  the  free  foresters  divide  no  spoil ; 
Serene,  not  sullen,  were  the  solitudes 
Of  this  unsighing  people  of  the  woods.” 

These  magnificent  lines  were  called 
forth,  after  a  highly  wrought  eulogy  on 
General  Daniel  Boone,  who  was  chiefly 
instrumental  in  the  first  settlement  of 
Kentucky,  and  who  subsequently  left 
the  abode  of  civilized  men. 

25  See  “History  of  Colonization,  ap¬ 
plied  to  the  American  Colonies,  and  the 
future  settlements  of  the  Colonies,” 
1777,  4to.  A  reply  to  this  was  pub¬ 
lished  :  J.  Symonds’  “  Remarks  on  the 
History  of  Colonization  of  the  American 
Colonies,”  1778,  4to. 

26  In  the  Act  known  as  2nd  of  Queen 
Anne,  for  Preventing  the  Further 
Growth  of  Popery. 

27  There  was  a  clause  added  by  the 
English  government  and  ratified  by  the 
unrepresentative  Irish  Parliament,  that 
none  should  be  capable  of  any  public 
employment,  or  of  being  in  the  magis¬ 
tracy  of  any  city,  who  did  not  receive 
the  sacrament  according  to  the  English 
Test  Act.  See  Bishop  Buruet’a 
“  History  of  My  Own  Time,”  Vol.  iL, 
Book  vii.,  pp.  340,  361,  362. 


IRISH  COLONISTS  DURING  THE  REIGN  OF  GEORGE  III.  137 

they  willing  to  leave  a  country,  where  they  felt  oppression,  and  as  emi¬ 
grants  they  turned  towards  the  American  colonies.  Thus  we  find  that 
the  Irish  Rowan  family  emigrated  from  Pennsylvania  to  Kentucky,  so 
early  as  1753.  There  were  also  Croghansand  McGradys,  from  Ireland, 
very  early  settlers. 

In  1762,  ground  down  by  the  tithes  falling  on  tillage  and  rack-rents 
of  the  landlords  or  middlemen,  an  exodus  of  Catholics  took  place.28 
David  Campbell,29  an  Irishman,  was  the  pioneer  who  erected 
Campbell’s  Station,  fifteen  miles  below  Knoxville,  Tennessee.  There, 
too,  at  Limestone,  lived  the  Irish  father  of  the  famous  David  Crockett.20 
Indeed,  it  may  be  observed,  that  the  midland  States  of  America,  and 
the  Western  parts  in  general,  were  half  formed  of  Irishmen.31  Liberal 
colonial  inducements  were  held  out  in  1764,  to  encourage  free  white 
labourers  from  Ireland.32  Many  responded  to  the  call,  and  as  industrious 
colonists  they  generally  reached  a  degree  of  comfort  and  independence, 
which  could  not  be  realized  in  their  native  land.  While  enumerating 
the  districts  and  families  here  presented,  it  must  be  undertood,  that 
allusion  has  solely  been  made  to  the  relations  of  Irish  settlers  with  the 
United  States  in  the  Colonial  days.33  Moreover,  the  data  afforded  and 


28 In  his  “Popular  History  of  Ire¬ 
land,”  Thomas  D’Arcy  M‘Gee  says; 
“Outraged  in  their  dearest  civil  and 
religious  rights,  thousands  of  the  Irish 
of  Ulster,  and  the  Milesian  and  other 
Anglo-Irish  of  the  other  provinces,  pre¬ 
ferred  to  encounter  the  perils  of  an 
Atlantic  flitting,  rather  than  abide 
under  the  yoke  and  lash  of  such  an 
oligarchy.”  Book  xi.,  chap  ii. 

29  His  son  Captain  John  Campbell 
shared  in  almost  all  the  campaigns 
against  the  Indians,  until  the  close  of 
the  Revolution. 

30  He  was  born  at  Limestone,  August 
17th  17S6. 

31  Such  is  the  statement  of  a  native 
American  writer  Hugh  Henry  Bracken- 
ridge  the  author  of  “Modern  Chivalry,” 
one  of  the  finest  political  satires  Amer¬ 
ica  has  produced.  It  was  published  at 
Pittsburg  in  1794,  just  thirteen  years 
after  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  at 
Yorktown.  He  had  been  a  chaplain  in 
Washington’s  army,  and  he  was  well 
acquainted  with  the  spirit,  enterprise 
and  bravery  of  the  natives  of  Ireland. 

32  See  Rev.  J.  A.  Spencer’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  i. 

33  The  American  historian,  George 
Bancroft,  writes:  “  Just  after  the  peace 
of  Paris,  ‘  the  Heart  of  Oak  ’  Protest¬ 
ants  of  Ulster,  weary  of  strife  with 
their  landlords,  came  over  in  great 


numbers ;  and  settlements  on  the  Cataw¬ 
ba,  in  South  Carolina,  dated  from  that 
epoch.  At  different  times  in  the  eigh¬ 
teenth  century,  some  had  found  homes 
in  New  England,  but  they  were  most 
numerous  south  of  New  York,  from 
New  Jersey  to  Georgia.  In  Pennsyl¬ 
vania  they  peopled  many  counties,  till, 
in  public  life,  they  already  balanced 
the  influence  of  the  Quakers.  In  Vir¬ 
ginia,  they  went  up  the  valley  of  the 
Shenandoah  ;  and  they  extended  them¬ 
selves  along  the  tributaries  of  the 
Catawba,  in  the  beautiful  upland  region 
of  North  Carolina.  Their  training  in 
Ireland  had  kept  the  spirit  of  liberty 
and  the  readiness  to  resist  unjust  govern¬ 
ment  as  fresh  in  their  hearts,  as  though 
they  had  just  been  listening  to  the 
preachings  of  Knox,  or  musing  over  the 
political  creed  of  the  Westminster 
Assembly.  They  brought  to  America 
no  submissive  love  for  England  ;  and 
their  experience  and  their  religion  alike 
bade  them  meet  oppression  with  prompt 
resistance.  We  shall  find  the  first  voice 
publicly  raised  in  America  to  dissolve 
all  connection  with  Great  Britain  came, 
not  from  the  Puritans  of  New  England, 
or  the  Dutch  of  New  York,  or  the  plan¬ 
ters  of  Virginia,  but  from  Scotch- Irish 
Presbyterians.”  —  “  History  of  the 
United  States,”  Vol.  v.,  chap,  iv.,  pp. 
76  77. 


138  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

our  limiteb  space  must  necessarily  leave  this  enumeration  imperfect, 
but  all  the  names  mentioned  have  a  general  or  a  local  historic  celebrity, 
and  therefore  in  some  degree  or  other  of  excellency,  they  reflect 
credit  on  Ireland,  the  parent  country  from  which  they  had  been 
derived. 

Previous  to  and  at  the  commenceinent  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  the 
colonists  were  composed  of  adventurers,  not  only  from  every  district  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  but  from  almost  every  other  European 
Government,  where  the  principles  of  liberty  and  of  commerce  have  operated 
with  spirit  and  efficacy.34  The  Irish  element  was  well  represented  in 
New  England,  as  in  other  colonies.  In  Boston,  there  were  many 
Presbyterian  families  of  Irish  birth  or  of  Irish  extraction.  A  band  of 
forty  hunters  was  led  by  Colonel  James  Knox,35  into  the  solitudes  of 
the  Kentucky  forests  in  1770,  while  Daniel  Boone36  was  there  a  lone 
hunter.  Those  adventurers  were  gathered  from  the  valleys  of  New 
River.  Among  them,  Clinch  and  Holston  had  a  passionate  desire  to 
chase  the  buffaloes  in  the  west.  Nine  of  the  forty  had  crossed  the 
mountains,  and  had  penetrated  into  that  desert  and  almost  impassible 
country,  about  the  heads  of  the  Cumberland  River.  These  were  the 
first  white  men,  who  explored  that  wild  region  spreading  along  the 
borders  of  Kentucky  and  of  Tennessee.37  No  complete  memorial  has 
been  transmitted  regarding  the  emigrations  that  took  place  from 
Europe  to  America  at  this  period  ;  but,  from  the  few  illustrative  facts 
that  are  actually  preserved,  they  seem  to  have  been  amazingly  copious. 
In  the  years  1771,  1772  and  1773,  the  number  of  emigrants  to  America 
from  Belfast  and  other  ports  in  that  neighbourhood  amounted  to  over 
25,000.38  There  were  only  five  white  women  in  Wilkesbarre,  Penn¬ 
sylvania,  in  May  1772. 39  A  Mrs.  McClure,  wife  of  James  McClure 
an  Irishman,  was  mother  of  the  second  white  child  born  in  Wilkes¬ 
barre.  Within  the  fortnight  preceding  August  20th  17  7  3, 40  three  thou¬ 
sand  five  hundred  passengers  arrived  from  Ireland  in  Maryland.  Nearly 


84  See  “Letters  from  America  His¬ 
torical  and  Descriptive,  from  1769  to 
1777.”  By  William  Eddies.  London, 
1792. 

35 See  Appleton’s  “Cyclopedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  iii ,  p.  567. 

86  He  departed  in  1799  for  the  Mis¬ 
souri  River,  and  frequently  shifted  his 
station  :  but,  he  lived  chiefly  at  a  place 
called  from  him  Boone's  Lick,  now  in 
Howard  County,  away  from  the  reach 
of  social  intrusion,  and  in  the  midst  of 
dangers,  about  the  year  1816.  Even 
there,  the  white  men  began  to  encroach 
on  his  wild  haunts.  He  then  went  back 
two  hundred  miles  farther  into  the 
woods,  and  after  the  age  of  seventy,  his 
“  lonely,  vigorous,  harmless  days  ”  were 
6pent  hunting  and  trapping  in  the  soli¬ 


tudes.  According  to  Lord  Byron, 
“  Boone  lived  hunting  up  to  ninety  ;  ” 
but  this  statement  was  an  exaggera¬ 
tion,  for  he  died  in  1820.  Concerning 
him,  the  noble  poet  wrote,  soon  after 
the  date  already  given,  and  Byron  died 
at  Missolonghi,  in  Western  Greece,  on 
the  19th  of  April,  1824. 

87  See  Perkins’  “  Annals  of  the  West.” 

88  Chiefly  were  these  evicted  from 
one  of  the  Marquis  of  Donegal’s  estates, 
in  Antrim.  See  Marmion’s  “  Ancient 
and  Modern  History  of  the  Maritime 
Ports  of  Ireland.” 

89  See  Miner’s  “  History  of  Wyom- 
ing,”  pp.  13S,  139. 

40  See  the  first  number  of  the  Mary¬ 
land  Journal  and  Baltimore  Advertiser , 
of  that  date. 


IRISH  COLONISTS  DURING  THE  REIGN  OF  GEORGE  III.  139 

ail  of  these  emigrated  at  (heir  own  charge.  A  great  majority  had  been 
employed  in  the  linen  manufacture,  or  they  were  farmers  who  possessed 
some  property.  This  being  converted  into  money,  they  carried  it  with  them 
as  a  means  for  bettering  their  fortunes.  It  appears,  that  during  the  year 
1773,  vessels  were  arriving  every  month  and  bringing  large  contingents 
to  the  population  from  Holland  and  Germany ;  as  also  specially  from 
Ireland  and  from  the  highlands  of  Scotland.  These  latter  were  par¬ 
ticularly  discontented  with  the  treatment  of  England  towards  their 
nation,  which  had  been  deprived  of  its  own  independent  Parliament.41 
This  accession  to  the  colonial  population — as  might  reasonably  be 
supposed — had  no  tendency  to  diminish  or  counteract  the  hostile  senti¬ 
ments  towards  Britain,  which  were  daily  gathering  force  in  America.42 
About  seven  hundred  Irish  settlers  repaired  to  the  Carolinas  in  the 
Autumn  of  1773.  During  the  course  of  that  same  season,  no  fewer 
than  ten  vessels  sailed  from  Britain,  and  filled  with  Scottish  Highlanders 
emigrating  to  the  American  States,  In  the  summer  of  1773,  a  party 
led  by  Bull  it,  and  in  which  were  two  of  the  McAffees,  Handcock,  Taylor, 
Brennan,  and  others,  separated.  A  part  of  them  went  up  the  Kentucky 
River  and  explored  its  banks,  while  they  made  some  important  surveys. 
Those  included  that  valley,  in  which  Frankfort  now  stands.  The  remain¬ 
der  went  on  to  the  Falls  of  the  Ohio,  and  there  in  behalf  of  J ohn  Campbell 
and  John  Connolly,  they  laid  out  the  site  and  plan  of  Louisville  city.43 

One  of  the  early  clergymen  who  influenced  American  progress  was 
the  Rev  James  McSparran  of  the  Church  of  Naraganset.44  At  what 
time  the  Elder  family  came  from  Ireland  to  New  York  is  not  known, 
but  it  was  previous  to  the  Revolution.  An  Irish  descended  family  of 
Elders  were  early  settlers  in  Kentucky,  and  they  were  most  probably 
derived  from  that  race.  On  the  understanding,  that  their  time  should 
be  disposed  of  to  pay  for  their  passage,  three  hundred  emigrants  of  both 
sexes  arrived  from  Newry,  on  the  3rd  August  1774.45  Several  young 
men  of  good  abilities  had  been  banished  to  America,  owing  to  the 
severity  of  British  law.  Many  of  these  made  good  clerks  and  store¬ 
keepers,  while  they  rose  to  riches  and  credit,  being  also  the  founders  of 
good  families.  It  is  related  by  Watson,46  that  before  his  time,  one  dis- 


41  By  the  Act  of  an  incorporating 
Union  in  1707.  The  truest  and  best 
account  of  this  most  dishonest  and  sur¬ 
reptitious  transaction  is  that  given  by 
George  Lockhart  of  Carnwath,  in  the 
“Memoirs  concerning  the  Affairs  of 
Scotland  from  Queen  Anne’s  Accession 
to  the  Throne,  to  the  commencement 
of  the  Union  of  the  Two  Kingdoms 
of  Scotland  and  England,  in  May 
1707.”  Third  edition,  London,  1714, 
8vo. 

42  See  Rev.  Mr.  Spencer’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  YoL  i.,  p.  S05. 

“See  Dr.  Jared  Sparks’  “Life  and 


Writings  of  George  Washington.”  Ap¬ 
pendix  to  the  Second  Vol.  This  excel¬ 
lent  historical  work  was  first  published 
in  1834-1837,  in  twelve  vols.,  8vo. 

44  He  was  born  in  Ireland  about  16S0, 
and  he  died  in  South  Kensington, Rhode 
Island,  in  1757.  See  Appleton’s  “Cyclo¬ 
pedia  of  American  Biography,”  Vol.  iv., 
pp.  161,  162.  Likewise  “Cyclopedia 
of  American  Literature.” 

“These  sailed  in  the  ship  Needham, 
under  the  command  of  Capt.  Cheevers. 
See  RivingtorCs  Gazette,  August  4th, 
1774. 

48  In  his  “  Annals  of  Philadelphia.” 


J40  IRISIi-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

tinguishcd  man  had  been  sold  in  Maryland.  He  had  been  an  offender 
from  Ireland.  While  serving  his  master  as  a  common  servant,  he 
showed  much  ability  in  managing  for  him  an  important  lawsuit,  for 
which  the  master  instantly  made  him  free.  He  went  to  Philadelphia, 
and  there  he  amassed  a  large  fortune  in  landed  estate.  Afterwards  it 
became  of  great  value  and  it  was  distributed  among  his  heirs.  Among 
the  other  Irish  Redemptioners  was  Matthew  Lyon,  who  arrived  in 
America  in  1759. 47  On  landing  in  New  York,  he  was  assigned  to 
Jabez  Bacon,  of  Woodbury,  who  brought  him  home.  After  serving 
thus  for  some  time,  Lyon  was  assigned  for  the  remainder  term  of  his 
service  to  Hugh  Hannah  of  Litchfield,  and  for  a  pair  of  stags  valued 
at  £12.  By  dint  of  sterling  native  talent  and  under  the  most  dis¬ 
heartening  circumstances,  he  fought  his  way  to  fame  and  eminence. 
He  was  afterwards  a  member  of  Congress  from  Vermont  and  also  from 
Kentucky.48  Among  the  early  Irish  settlers  found  by  Daniel  Boone 
in  Kentucky  were  Major  Hugh  McGrady  and  Richard  Hogan,  with 
others  who  lived  in  Powell’s  Valley.  He  placed  himself  at  the 
head  of  this  interesting  little  colony,  and  led  them  through  the  Cumber¬ 
land  gap,  into  the  wilderness  beyond,  and  where  it  was  destined 
to  be  the  germ  of  a  great  state.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1775,  he 
was  visited  at  Boonesborough  by  the  brothers  James  and  Robert 
McAfee,  and  by  several  other  men.  These  subsequently  rendered  very 
impo  tant  services  in  the  settlement  of  the  West.49  Also,  McLellan, 
McBride,  and  Benjamin  Logan  an  Irish  Pennsylvanian,  were  residents  of 
Kentucky  in  1775. 50  In  the  year  1775,  the  famous  pioneer  Simon 
Kenton,  alias  Butler,51  erected  a  cabin  within  the  present  Mason  County, 
and  he  grew  the  first  corn  ever  planted  at  any  point  on  the  north  side 
of  Licking  River.  This  was  a  simple  incident  in  the  bfe  of  an  adven¬ 
turous  woodsman  ;  but,  regarded  in  the  light  of  subsequent  events,  it 
has  assumed  a  significance  that  renders  it  historic.  It  marked  the 
beginning  of  a  new  epoch,  and  it  symbolized  the  characteristic  move¬ 
ment  of  the  period — the  sullen  retreat  of  the  hunter  tribes  before  the 
pioneers  of  a  civilized  race.  Though  for  years  afterwards,  that  exposed 
border  was  swept  by  tides  of  savage  incursions,  the  pioneer  seemed  to 
feel  that  his  position  was  now  comparatively  secure,  and  that  he  might 
at  last  venture  to  lay  aside  the  rifle,  to  build,  to  plant,  and  to  reap.52 

The  British  Ministry  were  now  engaged  in  digesting  plans  to  diminish 
that  great  load  of  taxation,  caused  by  the  national  debt,  with  its  accruing 


47  See  Irish  Celts.”  By  a  Member  of 
the  Michigan  Bar. 

48  See  Cothren’s  “  History  of  Ancient 
Woodbury,”  Vol.  ii. ,  p.  320. 

49  See  “  Hartley’s  History  of  the 
Early  Settlement  of  Kentucky.”  Also, 
Marshall’s  “  History  of  Kentucky,”  Vol. 
i.,  chap.  iii. 

59  See  Thomas  D’Arcy  McGee’s 
“  History  of  the  Irish  Settlers  in 


North  America,”  chap,  ii.,  pp.  27  to 
32. 

61  His  father  was  an  irishman.  He 
was  born  in  Virginia  a.d.  1755,  and  after 
many  strange  adventures  aud  brave 
achievements,  he  died  in  Ohio,  1836. 
See  Appleton’s  “Cyclopaedia  of  Ameri¬ 
can  Biography,”  Vol.  iii.,  pp.  522  523. 

52  See  the  Marysville  Kentucky  E  fjle> 
for  January  13th,  1875.  \ 


RESISTANCE  TO  THE  STAMP  ACT. 


141 


heavy  interest.  As  yet,  no  English  Ministry  had  attempted  to  levy  a 
direct  tax  on  the  colonies.  However,  a  little  after  the  accession  of 
George  III.  to  the  throne,53  a  deficiency  of  about  three  millions  in  the 
revenue  was  with  difficulty  supplied  by  temporary  resources,  and  by 
encroachments  on  the  sinking  fund.54  A  Stamp  Act  and  a  Bill  for  collect¬ 
ing  customs  in  the  colonies  had  been  considered,  as  a  means  available 
for  increasing  the  revenue.55  Even  this  idea  was  favoured  by  several  of 
the  government  officials  and  dependents  in  America,  who  were  ready  to 
lend  it  support.  Accordingly,  it  was  proposed  in  1764,  by  the  prime 
minister  Grenville,  who  first  brought  this  scheme  into  form,58  that  the 
Parliament. should  be  induced  to  lev)  taxes,  and  to  impose  them  in  a  heavy 
proportion,  based  on  very  exaggerated  accounts  of  North  American 
colonial  wealth.57  The  colonists  had  cherished  notions,  similar  to  those 
of  the  British  constitutionalists,  that  taxation  without  representation 
was  tyrannical,  illegal,  and  a  grievance.  The  celebrated  work  of 
William  Molyneux 58  had  been  eagerly  read  in  America,59  and  the 
principles  there  laid  down,  that  Ireland  having  its  own  Parliament 
and  making  its  own  laws  could  not  be  bound  by  English  statutes, 
because  they  sent  no  representatives  to  that  Parliament,  were  now 
applied  to  the  colonies.60 

When  Mr.  Grenville  brought  forth  his  celebrated  Act  for  imposing 
American  Stamp  Duties  on  the  5th  May,  General  Henry  Conway  stood 
alone,  in  denying  that  right  asserted  by  the  British  legislature  to  tax 
the  colonies.  Mr.  Pitt  was  then  confined  at  home  through  indisposition 
and  unable  to  attend  the  house.61  An  agitation  in  opposition  to 
those  measures  soon  spread  throughout  the  several  colonies.  In  Massa¬ 
chusetts  it  became  very  vehement,  as  also  in  New  York  and  Rhode 


53  This  event  took  place  October  25th, 
1760. 

54  See  Adolphus’  “  History  of  England 
from  the  Accession  of  King  George  III. 
to  the  conclusion  of  Peace  in  the  year 
One  Thousand  Seven  Hundred  and 
Eighty-Three,”  Vol.  i.,  p.  159. 

55  See  “  Observations  on  the  State  of 
the  British  Colonies  in  America,”  Map 
and  Plates.  London,  1769,  Ito. 

66  See  Works  of  Edmund  Burke,  Vol. 
i.  Speed*  on  American  Taxation,  p.  460. 

57  The  causes  which  led  to  the  Ameri¬ 
can  War  of  Independence  are  most 
lucidly  set  forth  in  George  Bancroft’s 
“  History  of  the  United  States',”  Vol.  v. 
and  vi. 

68 See  “Case  of  Ireland’s  being  bound 
by  Acts  of  Parliament  made  in  England 
stated.”  This  was  first  published  in 
Dublin,  a.d.  1697,  8vo.  It  afterwards 
appeared  there  in  various  editions,  dur¬ 
ing  subsequent  years.  The  latest  edi¬ 
tion  of  this  work  is  that  by  the  present 


writer,  with  a  life  of  the  author  prefixed, 
and  published  in  Dublin,  by  Sealy, 
Bryers  and  Walker,  1892,  8vo. 

59  An  able  paper,  inspired  by  this 
work  and  accommodated  to  the  case  of 
the  colonies,  appeared  in  the  Boston 
Gazette  of  August  24th  1767.  The  Go¬ 
vernor  Bernard  wrote  his  disapprobation 
of  its  purport  to  Shelburne  on  the  same 
day. 

80  This  doctrine  was  admitted  by  Lord 
Coke. 

61  See  Rev.  Francis  Thackeray’s  “  His¬ 
tory  of  the  Right  Honourable  William 
Pitt,  Earl  of  Chatham  :  containing  his 
Speeches  in  Parliament ;  a  considerable 
Portion  of  his  Correspondence,  when 
Secretary  of  State,  upon  French,  Spanish 
and  American  Affairs,  never  before  pub¬ 
lished  ;  with  an  accouut  of  the  principal 
Events  and  Persons  of  his  time,  con¬ 
nected  with  his  Life,  Sentiments  and 
Administrations,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  xx.,  p. 
58.  London.  Two  Vols.  1827,  4to, 


142 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Island.  Thence  invitations  went  to  other  colonies,  to  maintain  their 
liberties,  to  organize  and  to  devise  a  method  for  union.  This  proposition 
led  to  a  cordial  approval  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,62  while  the  flame 
spread  rapidly  throughout  Pennsylvania,  and  the  direction  was 
chiefly  conducted  by  Charles  Thomson.63  Another  of  these  stout 
protestors  was  John  Dunlap,64 '  born  at  Strabane,  in  Ireland. 
Whereupon,  in  October  1764,  by  a  majority  and  after  great  opposi¬ 
tion  from  the  proprietary  party,  the  Assembly  elected  Benjamin 
Franklin65  as  their  agent  to  sail  for  England.  His  instructions  were, 
to  use  every  effort  in  opposing  the  threatened  Stamp  Act,  and  to  pre¬ 
serve  the  inalienable  liberties  of  the  colonists  in  America.66  Several 
other  provinces  had  empowered  Franklin  to  act  for  them  as  agent,  and 
in  that  capacity  he  was  indefatigable,  by  trying  to  enlighten  the  Eng¬ 
lish  ministers  and  the  public  on  the  popular  state  of  feeling  in  America.67 
There,  opposition  was  openly  expressed,  while  this  agitation  was  con¬ 
tinued  and  extended.68  In  Boston,  it  was  vigorously  set  on  foot  by 


62  See  T.  F.  Gordon’s  “  History  of 
Pennsylvania  from  its  Discovery  by 
Europeans  to  the  Declaration  of  Inde¬ 
pendence  in  1776.”  Philadelphia,  1829, 
8vo. 

63  He  was  born  at  Maghera,  near  Lon¬ 
donderry,  Ireland,  November  29th  1729. 
With  his  father  and  family,  he  sailed  for 
America  in  1741,  but  his  father  died  on 
the  voyage.  He  was  a  pupil  of  Rev. 
Francis  Alison,  at  Thunder  Hill,  Mary¬ 
land.  He  became  a  teacher  himself, 
first  at  Newcastle,  and  afterwards  at 
Philadelphia,  where  he  became  the  inti¬ 
mate  friend  of  Benjamin  Franklin.  He 
was  engaged  in  mercantile  business  for 
some  years,  and  such  was  his  integrity, 
that  even  the  Delaware  Indians,  with 
whom  he  was  a  negotiator  of  treaties, 
styled  him  “  The  Truthteller.”  He  was 
a  secretary  to  many  literary  and  patrio¬ 
tic  societies.  See  “The  Encyclopedia 
Americana,”  a  Supplementary  Diction¬ 
ary  of  Arts,  Sciences  and  General 
Literature,  Vol.  iv.,  p.  680.  New  York, 
1885  to  1889,  4 to. 

64  He  started  the  first  daily  paper 
published  in  America,  and  it  was  styled 
The  Pennsylvania  Packet.  He  was 
printer  to  the  Convention  of  1774,  and 
to  the  first  Congress.  He  was  the  first, 
also,  who  printed  the  Declaration  of  In¬ 
dependence.  He  became  a  Captain  in 
the  first  troop  of  Philadelphia  Horse. 
In  1775,  he  established  a  weekly  paper, 
having  for  its  title  Dunlap’s  Maryland 
Gazette ,  under  the  direction  of  Janies 
Hayes,  who  became  editor  in  1778. 


See  Appleton’s  “Cyclopedia  of  Ameri¬ 
can  Biography,”  Vol.  ii. ,  p.  258.  See, 
also,  Griffith’s  “  Annals  of  Baltimore,” 
1824. 

65  He  had  visited  London  for  the  first 
time  in  1725,  and  he  returned  to 
America  in  1 726,  when  he  established 
printing  works  in  Philadelphia.  In 
1751,  he  was  a  member  of  the  House  of 
Assembly  in  Pennsylvania,  and  after¬ 
wards  he  was  appointed  Post-master 
General  of  the  Colonies.  He  visited 
England,  on  important  public  business 
in  1757,  and  there  he  was  honourably 
received,  as  a  man  of  science  and  of 
letters.  During  the  spring  time  of  1762, 
he  returned  to  America,  having  formed 
friendships  with  some  of  the  most  dis¬ 
tinguished  personages  in  the  British 
Islands  and  on  the  Continent  of 
Europe. 

66  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  v.,  chap, 
x.,  p.  220. 

67  He  was  greatly  esteemed  by  the 
liberal  minded  people  of  all  classes  for 
his  high  character,  patriotism  and 
sagacity.  He  also  contrived  to  have 
close  relations  with  the  French  govern¬ 
ment  through  their  ambassador  in 
London,  so  that  in  case  of  failing  in  his 
mission,  he  might  form  an  alliance  for 
his  country  with  France.  These  trans¬ 
actions  are  set  forth  in  Mignet's  “  Vido 
de  Frankbn.” 

68  See  “  Letters  from  a  farmer  in 
Pennsylvania  to  the  inhabitants  of  the 
British  Colonies.”  Boston  1768,  8vo. 


RESISTANCE  TO  THE  STAMP  ACT.  143 

Samuel  Adams,  and  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts  warmly  espoused 
the  resolutions  of  the  citizens.  The  people  of  New  Yoi’k,  Rhode  Island, 
North  Carolina  69  and  Virginia  were  deeply  moved  by  discontent  and 
protests,  especially  when  the  settled  purpose  of  Ministers  became  more 
clearly  disclosed.70  The  several  charters  referring  to  settlement  were 
appealed  to,  in  asserting  colonial  rights  and  privileges.71  Among  those 
who  protested  most  warmly  against  the  arbitrary  measures  of  the 
British  Government  in  1765,  was  an  Irish- American,  named  George 
Bryan.72 

On  the  12th  of  February,  1765,  George  Grenville  moved  his  fifty- 
five  financial  resolutions,73  and  among  these  the  Stamp  Act  in  detail 
was  introduced.  Colonel  Isaac  Barre,74  a  young  Irishman  of  consider¬ 
able  oratorical  powers,  opposed  it,  as  did  Alderman  Beckford.75  How¬ 
ever,  they  were  defeated  by  a  majority  of  245  against  49,  after  a  debate 
that  lasted  until  nine  o’clock.76  Owing  to  their  spirit  of  domination 
and  scorn  for  American  rights,  the  ministers  passed  this  Stamp  Act.77 

Ever}7  provincial  assembly  in  the  colonies  immediately  took  measures 
to  render  it  null  and  void.78  Only  stamped  paper  was  now  declared 


69  See  Martin’s  “  History  of  North 
Carolina,”  Vol.  ii.,  p.  188. 

70  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States,”  Vol.  v.,  chap,  ix., 
x.,  pp.  157  to  227. 

71  Their  nature  and  provisions 
are  to  be  found  in  an  octavo  volume  : 
“  Charters  of  the  British  Colonies  insti¬ 
tuted  in  America  ”  It  is  without  any 
date  of  publication. 

73  Afterwards  he  became  a  judge  of 
the  Supreme  Court  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  a  member  of  Congress.  See  Apple¬ 
ton’s  “  Cyclopedia  of  American  Bio¬ 
graphy,”  Vol.  i.,  p.  421. 

73  See  Thomas  M ‘Knight’s  “History 
of  the  Life  and  Times  of  Edmund 
Burke,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  ix.,  pp.  159-175. 
London,  1858  to  1860.  Three  Vols.  8vo. 

74  He  had  already  shared  the  perils 
and  glory  of  General  Wolfe,  and  under 
the  patronage  of  Lord  Shelbourne,  he 
had  been  introduced  into  the  English 
House  of  Commons. 

75  Member  for  the  City  of  London, 
and  who  had  been  a  West  Indian 
planter. 

76  See  Horace  Walpole’s  “Memoirs 
of  the  Reign  of  King  George  the 
Third,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  iii.,  p.  78. 
Edited  by  Sir  Denis  le  Marchant, 
Bart.  In  Four  vols.  8vo.  London, 
1845. 

77  At  the  moment  of  passing  the 
Stamp  Act  George  III.  was  crazed, 


and  it  received  on  the  22nd  of  March, 
the  royal  assent  by  a  Commission. 
See  John  Adolphus’  “  History  of  r.ng- 
land,  from  the  Accession  of  King 
George  the  Third  to  the  conclusion 
of  Peace  in  the  year  One  Thousand 
Seven  Hundred  and  Eighty-three,” 
Vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  pp.  189  to  191. 
London,  1802,  in  Three  Volumes,  8vo. 
Under  am  altered  title,  this  work 
appeared  in  a  Fourth  Volume,  as 
“  The  History  of  England,  from  the 
Accession  to  the  Decease  of  King 
George  the  Third.”  London,  1841  to 
1845,  8vo.  The  Seventh  Volume  only 
reaching  to  May  12th,  1804,  was  the 
last  published. 

78  Having  failed  in  his  efforts, 
Franklin  wrote  a  letter  from  London, 
dated  July  11th  1765  to  Charles 
Thompson,  in  which  he  declared,  that 
as  well  might  he  have  tried  to  hinder 
the  sun  from  setting,  as  to  prevent  the 
passing  of  the  Stamp  Act.  Since  the 
sun  of  liberty  was  set,  he  advised,  as 
it  might  be  long  before  it  might  rise 
again  to  “  make  as  good  a  night  of 
it  as  we  can.  We  may  still  light 
candles.  Frugality  and  industry  will 
go  a  great  way  towards  indemnifying 
us.” — Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
United  States,”  Vol.  v.,  chap,  xv., 
pp.  306,  307,  note.  To  this  despond¬ 
ing  letter  Thompson  replied  :  — “  Be 
assured  we  shall  light  up  torches  of  a 
very  different  kind.” 


144 


IRISH -AMERICAN  HISTORY  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


t>o  be  legal.  The  people  were  determined  not  to  use  it,  and  business 
became  in  a  great  measure  suspended.  The  courts  were  almost  closed  ; 
marriages  ceased ;  vessels  were  delayed  in  the  harbours ;  while  the 
social  and  commercial  operations  of  America  were  almost  paralysed. 
When  news  of  passing  the  Stamp  Act  reached  America,  it  set  the 
people  in  a  blaze  of  resentment  and  indignation.  Virginia  spoke  out 
boldly  through  Patrick  Henry,  and  his  action  kindled  in  the  hearts  of 
the  disaffected  a  fiercer  flame.  He  drew  up  a  series  of  spirited  resolu¬ 
tions,79  denying  in  the  most  unqualified  terms  the  right  of  taxation 
claimed.  His  propositions  were  sustained  by  the  House  of  Burgesses. 
When  the  stamps  were  expected  to  arrive,  riots  commenced,80  and  symp¬ 
toms  of  a  revolutionary  character  soon  became  apparent.81  Petitions 
for  repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act  were  prepared  by  the  Colonial  Assemblies. 
Especially  in  Boston,  serious  riots  took  place,  nor  was  there  any  power  left 
the  Governor  to  control  these  tumultuary  proceedings.82  These  disturb¬ 
ances  were  imitated  in  New  York  and  Rhode  Island,  while  the  spirit  of 
resistance  was  soon  manifesting  itself  throughout  every  part  of  the  land.83 

To  retaliate  on  the  mother  country,  the  colonists  pledged  themselves 
to  abstain  from  buying  anything  imported  from  England  or  carried  in 
English  vessels.  Thus,  the  trade  between  the  New  Englanders  and 
that  country  almost  entirely  disappeared.84  A  general  gloom  over¬ 
spread  all  people  living  in  the  colonies ;  but  as  yet,  few  dared  to  think 
of  positive  rebellion.  This  alarming  state  of  feeling,  however,  soon 
became  known  in  England,  and  an  impression  went  forth  that  the 
Stamp  Act  must  be  rescinded.  Previous  to  the  year  1763,  the  terms 
Whig  and  Tory  had  never  been  much  used  in  America ;  but  now,  the 
officers  of  the  Crown  and  those  who  desired  to  uphold  their  authority 
were  branded  with  the  name  of  Tory,  while  the  patriots  and  common 
people,  supposing  the  Whigs  belonged  to  the  constitutional  and  liberal 
party  in  England,  generally  assumed  the  latter  designation.86  But, 


78  No  printer  was  found  bold  enough 
in  New  York  to  print  these  resolu¬ 
tions,  but  in  Boston  they  Avere  printed 
as  soon  as  received. 

80  Houses  belonging  to  the  Registrar 
deputy  and  Controller  of  the  Customs 
were  broken  in  Boston,  and  after- 
Avards  the  Governor’s  house  was  at¬ 
tacked  by  large  mobs,  who  despoiled 
it  of  every  article  of  furniture.  See 
John  Adolphus’  “  History  of  England, 
from  the  Accession  of  King  George 
the  Third  to  the  Conclusion  of  Peace 
in  the  Year  One  Thousand  SeATen 
Hundred  and  Eighty-three,”  Vol.  i., 
chap,  ix.,  pp.  206  to  211. 

81  Among  other  excesses,  Mr.  Oliver 
the  stamp-master  was  hung  in  effigy, 
and  he  Avas  obliged  to  fly  from  his 


house.  Next  day  to  save  his  life,  he 
resigned  his  office. 

82  See  Lord  Mahon’s  “  History  of 
England  from  the  Peace  of  Utrecht,” 
Vol.  v.,  chap,  xlv.,  pp.  188  to  190. 

83  That  very  day  appointed  for  the 
Stamp  Act  to  take  effect  was  ushered 
in  Avith  the  ringing  of  muffled  bells, 
in  Boston.  Flags  in  the  harbour 
lowered  half-mast  high.  There  it  was 
kept  as  a  day  of  general  mourning  by 
the  people. 

84  See  “  Controversy  between  Great 
Britain  and  her  Colonies  reviewed  ;  the 
Rebellions  in  Virginia,  Bermudas,  and 
divers  other  Islands  and  Places  in 
America,”  &c.  London,  1769,  8vo. 

85  See  Thomas  Hutchinson’s  “  History 
of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay, 
from  1749  to  1774,”  chap,  ii.,  p.  103. 


RENEWAL  OE  TAXATION. 


145 


now,  the  public  Press  and  the  agitators  had  begun  to  formulate  the 
inalienable  rights  of  man  ;  and  from  denying  the  right  of  Parliament  to 
tax  the  colonies,  they  proceeded  to  doubt  its  legislative  authority  over 
America.  At  New  York,  General  Gage  commanded  the  standing 
forces,  and  his  military  powers  extended  over  all  the  colonies,  while 
several  ships  of  war  were  there  anchored.  However,  in  that  city,  a 
Congress  assembled  and  opened  October  7th  1765,  when  delegates 
chosen  by  the  Massachusetts  House  of  Representatives  met,  with  those 
of  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland  and  South 
Carolina  ;  as  also  those  from  Delaware  and  New  Jersey,  with  a  legis¬ 
lative  committee  of  correspondence,  established  in  New  York.  The 
infant  colony  of  Georgia,  as  well  as  New  Hampshire,  agreed  to  abide 
by  and  ratify  the  result  of  the  deliberations. 

After  several  interesting  debates,  and  having  formed  articles  of 
association  and  of  union,  that  congress  assembled  for  the  last  time, 
on  the  25th  of  the  month.86  Everywhere  the  resolution  spread 
among  the  people  to  nullify  the  Stamp  Act,  so  that  in  a  short  time 
the  stamps  could  not  be  distributed.  These  proceedings  at  length 
began  to  alarm  thoughtful  men  in  England,  and  a  reaction  had 
there  set  in  among  the  people.87  A  new  Ministry  had  been  formed 
under  the  Marquis  of  Rockingham,  on  the  8th  of  July  1765, 88 
when  divided  opinions  were  entertained ;  some  of  the  ministers  still 
insisted  on  their  right  to  tax  America,  while  others  inclined  to  abdi¬ 
cate  the  pretended  right.  On  the  opening  of  Parliament  in  January 
1766,  the  King’s  speech  recommended  the  enforcement  of  lawful 
authority,  and  the  Lords  in  reply  pledged  their  utmost  endeavours  to 
uphold  his  dignity.  Greater  freedom  of  opinion  was  expressed  in  the 
House  of  Commons,89  when  the  elder  William  Pitt  entered  a  warm 
protest  against  American  taxation,  followed  by  Edmund  Burke.90  The 
King  and  his  ministers  pursued  their  course,  however,  resolving  to  make 
no  compromise,  and  opposed  to  conciliation.  English  mercantile 
interests  soon  began  to  sutler  so  seriously,  owing  to  the  American  non¬ 
importation  agreements,91  that  it  was  deemed  necessary  to  repeal  the 
obnoxious  Stamp  Act.  Besides,  the  popular  manifestations  of  insub¬ 
ordination  began  to  alarm  the  Ministry.  But,  they  wished  the  initiative 
to  be  taken  by  those  who  had  already  opposed  that  impost.  Accordingly 
in  February  1766,  General  Conway  moved  for  leave  to  bring  in  a  bill  to 


86  See  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
United  States,”  Vol.  v.,  chap  xviii.,  pp. 
333  to  346. 

87  See  Michael  Doheny’s  “  History  of 
the  American  Revolution,”  chap,  iv.” 
Dublin,  1846,  18mo. 

88  See  Horace  Walpole’s  “  Memoirs  of 
the  Reign  of  King  George  the  Third.” 
Vol.  ii.,  chap,  ix.,  pp.  192,  193. 

88  See  John  Adolphus’  “  History  of 
England,  from  the  Accession  of  King 


George  the  Third,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  ix., 
pp.  218  to  232. 

80  He  had  just  entered  Parliament,  at 
this  time.  See  Thomas  Macknight’s 
“  History  of  the  Life  and  Times  of  Ed¬ 
mund  Burke,”  Vol.  i.,  chap.  xi.,pp.  213 
to  224. 

91  See  Dr.  John  Mitchell’s  “  Present 
State  of  Great  Britain  and  North 
America,  with  regard  to  Agriculture, 
Population,  Trade  and  Manufactures,” 
1767,  8 vo. 


L 


146  IRISH -AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

repeal  the  American  Stamp  Act,  and  between  one  and  two  o’clock  on 
the  morning  of  the  22nd  a  division  took  place,  amid  the  greatest  possible 
excitement.  Then  275  voted  for  the  Bill,  while  only  167  voted  for 
enforcement,  with  the  modifications  proposed  in  an  amendment.92  Great 
rejoicings  followed  the  tidings  of  this  news  in  America.93  Another 
change  of  ministers  caused  Pitt  to  become  head  of  the  Cabinet,  and 
now  with  a  seat  in  the  House  of  Lords,  under  his  new  title  the  Earl  of 
Chatham,  on  July  30th  1766. 94  He  selected  for  ministers  men 
distinguished  and  owing  to  their  talents,  but  not  for  their  agreement 
regarding  affairs  of  State.95  Although  the  friend  of  America,  Pitt’s 
influence  and  popularity  began  to  wane  after  he  had  left  the  House  of 
Commons,  while  his  frequent  and  painful  attacks  of  gout  greatly 
indisposed  him  from  taking  a  very  leading  active  part  in  public  dis¬ 
cussions.  The  Earl  of  Chatham,  as  a  consequence,  resigned  the  direc¬ 
tion  of  government  in  March  1767. 

However,  it  was  only  the  fear  of  disruption,  that  procured  concession 
to  the  American  demand  ;  while  soon  again,  the  evil  spirit  of  domination 
arose  in  England,  and  among  the  colonial  Tories,  to  alarm  the  friends 
of  liberty.96  The  infatuated  Ministry  resolved  on  changing  the  objects, 
but  not  on  renouncing  the  principle  of  taxing  the  colonies.  In  the  year 
1767,  a  new  Act  was  introduced  imposing  duties  on  paper,  tea,  glass, 
with  other  imported  goods.  The  flame  thus  enkindled  by  the  British 
Ministry  soon  spread  through  the  colonies;  while  those  unjust  restrictions 
on  trade,  imposed  by  Act  of  Parliament,  were  generally  resisted.  After 
the  death  of  Charles  Townshend  in  1767,  97  Lord  North  became  Chan¬ 
cellor  of  the  Exchequer  on  the  1st  of  December,  98  through  the  influence 
of  the  Duke  of  Bedford.99  The  non-importation  policy  had  caused  great 
distress  among  the  English  merchants  and  manufacturers,  while  great 
embarrassment  accrued  to  trade  and  commerce.  In  the  year  1768,  an 
Irish  Member  of  Parliament  Gervase  P.  Bushe  published  the  “  Case  of 
Great  Britain  and  America.”  An  enlarged  edition  of  it  came  out  the 
following  year,  and  in  this  pamphlet  the  cause  of  the  colonists  was  ably 
sustained.100 


99  “  Edmund  Burke  spoke  in  a  manner 
unusual  in  the  house  ;  fresh  as  from  a 
full  mind,  connecting  the  argument  for 
repeal  with  a  new  kind  of  political 
philosophy.” — George  Bancroft’s  “His¬ 
tory  of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  v., 
chap,  xxiii.,  p.  434. 

93  See  John  Adolphus’  “History  of 
England  from  the  Accession  of  King 
George  the  Third,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xiii., 
pp.  303  to  305. 

94  See  Horace  Walpole’s  “  Memoirs  of 
tht  Reign  of  King  George  the  Third.” 
Vol.  ii. ,  chap,  xvi ,  p.  356. 

98  See  John  Adolphus’  “  History  of 
England,  from  the  Accession  of  King 


George  the  Third,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  ix.,  pp. 
240  to  243. 

96 See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States,”  Vol.  vi.,  chap,  xxv., 
pp.  1  to  16. 

97  He  died  of  malignant  fever,  on 
the  4th  of  September,  when  he  had 
reached  his  forty-fourth  year. 

93  See  John  Adolphus’  “  History  of 
England  from  the  Accession  of  King 
George  the  Third,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xiii., 
pp.  325,  326. 

99  See  Horace  Walpole’s  “  Memoirs 
of  the  Reign  of  King  George  the 
Third,”  Vol.  iii.,  chap,  vi.,  p.  105. 

100  See  “Memoirs  of  the  Life  and 


RENEWAL  OF  DISTURBANCES. 


147 


The  Americans  renewed  and  observed  their  pledges  to  import  no 
British  merchandise.  Commissioners  of  Customs  to  enforce  the  new  Acts 
arrived  in  Boston  May  1768,  and  in  the  succeeding  month,  they  seized 
a  sloop  belonging  to  a  popular  leader  and  a  rich  merchant  John 
Handcock,101  who  refused  to  pay  the  imposed  tax.102  Soon  a  riot  took 
place,  and  for  safety,  the  Commissioners  fled  to  a  fort  in  the  harbour. 
When  intelligence  of  this  insubordination  reached  them,  the  English 
Parliament  recommended,  that  the  Governor  should  be  directed  to  arrest 
the  ringleaders  among  those  rioters,  and  to  send  them  over  to  England, 
where  it  was  intended  to  have  them  tried  for  treason.103  Earnest  debates 
took  place  in  the  House  of  Commons,  where  this  resolution  met  with 
great  opposition.104  During  the  year  1769,  the  suppression  of  the 
Assembly  of  Massachusetts  and  efforts  to  terrorize  its  people  were  met 
defiantly  there,  and  elsewhere  throughout  the  colonies.105  Everywhere 
resistance  to  the  Revenue  Acts  was  the  subject  for  consideration.  A 
Mutiny  Act  was  now  passed,  which  empowered  the  Ministry  to  quarter 
troops  on  the  colonists.  The  Assembly  of  New  York  resolved  on 
disobeying  that  statute.106  Whereupon,  the  English  Parliament  prohibited 
that  body  from  transacting  any  legislative  business.  At  the  same  time, 
nearly  all  the  colonial  Assemblies  denied  the  right  of  Parliament  to  tax 
their  people.  The  Assembly  of  Massachusetts  issued  a  circular  letter 
to  the  other  colonies,  and  it  strongly  urged  them  to  unite  their  efforts 
in  obtaining  redress.  A  Royal  Order  was  issued  to  rescind  that  letter, 
but  by  a  large  majority  it  was  rejected  by  the  Assembly.  Accordingly, 
the  Governor  of  Massachusetts  dissolved  the  House  for  insubordination. 
Whereupon,  the  Assembly  of  Virginia  denied  in  the  most  emphatic 
way  the  power  of  the  Crown  thus  to  sacrifice  the  liberty  of  its  subjects. 
In  consequence  of  this,  the  Legislature  of  that  colony  was  likewise 
dissolved.  Lord  Hillsborough,  an  Irish  peer,  had  the  administration 
of  the  colonies  assigned  to  him.  During  the  year  1768,  such  universal 


Times  of  the  Rt.  Hon.  Henry  Grat¬ 
tan,”  by  his  son,  Henry  Grattan, 
Esq.,  M.P.  Vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  pp. 
135  136. 

101  Afterwards  the  celebrated  first 
signer  of  the  Declaration  of  In¬ 
dependence.  He  was  born  in 
1737,  near  the  village  of  Quincy, 
in  the  Province  of  Massachusetts- 
Bay,  and  he  was  educated  in 
Harvard  College.  In  1760,  he  visited 
England,  and  on  his  return  he  be¬ 
came  a  selectman  for  the  town  of 
Boston.  In  1766,  he  was  chosen  a 
representative  for  Boston  in  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  Province. 
Thenceforward  he*  was  involved  in  the 
olitical  excitement  that  ensued,  and 
e  became  particularly  obnoxious  to 
the  ruling  powers.  See  N.  Dwight’s 
"  Lives  of  the  Signers  of  the  Declara¬ 


tion  of  Independence,”  Massachusetts, 
pp.  18  to  28.  New  York,  1851,  8vo. 

102  See  John  Adolphus’  “History  of 
England  from  the  Accession  of  King 
George  the  Third,”  Vol.  i.,  chap, 
xiv.,  p.  350. 

103  See  Hugh  Murray’s  “United 
States  of  America,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xi., 
pp.  350,  351. 

104  See  John  Adolphus’  “  History  of 
England  from  the  Accession  of  King 
George  the  Third,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xv., 
pp.  379  to  386. 

. 105  See  Bancroft’s  “History  of  the 
United  States,”  Vol.  vi.,  chap,  xxxix 
to  xli.,  pp.  224  to  302. 

106  See  Pitkin’s  “  Political  and  Civil 
History  of  the  United  States,”  Vol. 
i.,  pp.  215,  216.  New  Haven,  1828, 
8vo. 


148  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  TIIK  UNITED  STATES. 

opposition  to  the  imposed  duties  prevailed — especially  in  Boston — that 
two  regiments  were  ordered  from  Ireland,  and  two  others  from  Hali¬ 
fax.  In  September  arose  fierce  opposition  to  quartering  them  within 
the  tcwn.107 

At  a  time  of  profound  peace,  and  at  the  request  of  Governor 
Bernard,  Boston  was  surrounded  by  fourteen  ships  of  war,  with  springs 
on  their  cables  and  their  broadsides  to  the  town.  Troops  under  the 
command  of  General  Gage  were  landed.  Charged  muskets,  fixed 
bayonets,  colours  flying,  drums  beating,  and  all  other  military  con¬ 
comitants  were  displayed,  in  order  to  strike  terror  into  the  inhabitants. 
However,  the  Assembly  refused  to  find  quarters  for  the  soldiers.  The 
Governor  then  posted  some  of  them  in  the  State  House  and  in  Faneuil 
Hall,  while  others  were  encamped  on  the  Common.  The  people  looked 
on  in  silence ;  for  the  present  they  were  powerless,  yet  burning  with 
resentment.  When  a  new  Assembly  had  been  convened  in  Boston, 
they  refused  to  transact  any  business,  while  threatened  by  an  armed 
force.  Robert  Aitken  an  Irish  printer  came  to  Philadelphia  in  1769. 
During  the  contests  with  England,  he  was  always  on  the  side  of  the 
colonies,  and  on  that  account,  he  was  thrown  into  prison  by  the 
British.108  The  patriots  were  working  in  secret,  and  enrolling  in 
their  societies  all  those  bold  and  daring  spirits,  whose  hearts  throbbed 
for  freedom  and  beat  with  indignation,  at  the  tyrannical  impositions 
inflicted  upon  them.  In  England,  it  was  now  judged  politic  to  effect  a 
change  of  administration ;  and  it  was  thought,  that  such  an  expedient 
might,  serve  to  allay  popular  discontent.  The  Governor  Bernard 
of  Massachusetts  having  been  removed  from  his  troublesome  office 
in  1769,  the  Lieutenant-Governor  Thomas  Hutchinson  was  appointed 
to  succeed  him.  But  he  was  equally  powerless  to  stem  the  tide  of 
popular  resistance.100  Meantime,  collisions  between  the  military  and 
people  of  Boston  were  of  frequent  occurrence.110  On  the  5th  of  March 
1770,  the  soldiers  fired  upon  the  citizens,  killing  three  outright,  and 
wounding  several,  including  Crispus  Attucks,  Samuel  Gray  and 
James  Calwell,  who  were  massacred  on  the  spot,  while  Samuel  Maverick 
and  Patrick  Carr,  an  Irishman,  received  mortal  wounds.  A  cry  of  ven¬ 
geance  went  forth  in  and  from  Boston.  The  story  of  the  “  massacre  ” 
was  told  all  over  the  land,  and  excited  the  most  implacable  hatred 
gainst  British  domination.111  A  captain  named  Preston  and  eight  men 
o?  the  guard  were  arraigned  for  murder  ;  while  two  of  the  chief  popular 
leaders  John  Adams  and  Josiah  Quincey  defended  the  accused,  to  show 


,®7  Sec  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
United  States,”  Vol.  vi.,  chap,  xxxii. 
to  xxxvfii.,  pp.  128  to  243. 

108  He  published  an  edition  of  the 
Bible,  a  Magazine,  and  “Transactions 
of  the  American  Philosophical  Soci¬ 
ety.” 

,w  See  Th  ‘Bras  Hutchinson’s  “  His¬ 


tory  of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts- 
Bay  from  1749  to  1774,”  chap,  iii., 
pp.  256  to  460. 

"u  See  William  Edward  Hartpole 
Lecky’s  “  History  of  England  in  the 
Eighteenth  Century,”  Yol.  iii.  chap, 
xii.,  pp.  365  to  367. 

111  See  John  Adolphus’  “History  of 


EXCISABLE  TEA  THROWN  INTO  BOSTON  HARBOUR.  143 

that  respect  still  entertained  by  the  Americans  for  law  and  order.11* 
The  people  meantime  clamoured  loudly  for  removal  of  the  troops  from 
their  city. 

In  the  commencement  of  1770,  the  Duke  of  Grafton  resigned  his 
office  of  Prime  Minister.  After  some  difficulties  expei’ienced  in  forming 
a  new  Ministry,  the  chief  direction  of  affairs  devolved  on  Lord  North. 
He  resolved  on  remitting  the  American  taxation  to  a  large  amount. 
But  the  sovereignty  of  the  British  legislature  was  still  maintained,  and 
they  did  not  relinquish  their  alleged  right  discretionally  to  tax  Americans, 
at  any  future  time.  It  was  then  determined  to  remove  all  colonial  taxes, 
except  a  duty  of  three  pence  a  pound  on  tea,113  which  was  consideied  to 
be  a  very  light  tax,  being  only  one  quarter  of  what  the  English  at  home 
paid  for  the  same  article.  At  the  express  command  of  King  George 
III.,  who  insisted  that  there  should  always  be  one  tax  at  least,  to  keep 
up  the  right  of  taxing  the  Americans,  this  was  retained.  On  Tuesday 
„  November  13th  1770,  the  King’s  speech  made  a  distinct  allusion  to  the 
disturbances  in  Massachusetts-Bay  colony,  where  “  very  unwarrantable 
practices  are  still  carried  on.”114  The  people  of  America  now  saw  that 
England’s  Ministers  determined  to  legislate  for  them,  and  they  began 
to  prepare  for  resistance.  In  1771,  and  in  the  sixty-fifth  year  of  his 
age,  Benjamin  Franklin  visited  Ireland,  where  he  had  never  been  before, 
and  where  he  was  hospitably  entertained  by  both  parties,  the  courtiers 
and  patriots  ;  the  latter  receiving  him  with  particular  respect.  The 
Lord  Lieutenant  Hillsborough  treated  him  with  especial  courtesy, 
although  neither  liking  him  nor  the  colonies.  In  the  Irish  Parliament, 
he  was  brought  within  the  bar,  and  there  he  found  the  principal  patriots 
disposed  to  be  friends  of  America.115 

In  Virginia,  colonial  resistance  was  strong,  and  measures  of  a  prac¬ 
tical  character  were  devised,  to  consolidate  a  union  between  the 
different  colonies,  in  March  1773.116  The  Assembly  appointed  a 
standing  committee  of  inquiry,  giving  them  instructions  to  com¬ 
municate  with  other  colonies,  so  that  the  non-importation  compact 
should  not  be  relaxed.  The  colonists  very  generally  passed  resolutions, 
disclaiming  the  authority  of  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain  to  tax 
them.117  The  first  organized  resistance  to  the  measures  of  Government 
was  in  New  England.  The  excisable  commodity  of  tea  was  known  to 


England’  from  the  Accession  of  King 
George  the  Third,”  Vol.  i.,  chap, 
xviii.,  pp.  466  to  469. 

112  See  George  Bancroft’s  “History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  vi.,  chap, 
xliii.,  pp.  328  to  349. 

113  See  John  Adolphus’  “  History  of 
England  from  the  Accession  of  King 
George  the  Third,”  Vol.  i.,  chap  xvii., 
pp.  458  to  4b0. 

114  See  “His  Majesty’s  most  Gra¬ 
cious  Speech  to  Parliament,  on  Tues¬ 


day,  13th  Nov.,  1770.”  London,  1770, 
fol.,  four  pages. 

115  See  “The  Works  of  Benjamin 
Franklin,”  &c.,  edited  by  Jared 
Sparks.  Vol.  i.,  Life  of  Benjamin 
Franklin,  chap,  v.,  pp.  331  to  334. 

116  See  George  Bancroft’s  “History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  vi.,  chap, 
xlix.,  pp.  444  to  455. 

117  See  “  Journal  of  the  Reign  of  King 
George  III.,  from  the  year  1771  to 
1783”  By  Horace  Walpole,  edited 


150 


IRISH-AMER1CAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Ml 


have  been  on  the  way  to  Boston,  and  to  have  been  conveyed  in  three 
ships,  towards  the  close  of  1773.  If  the  tea  were  once  landed,  and 
offered  for  sale  at  the  cheap  rate  which  arrangements  allowed,  the 
popular  leaders  knew  that  nothing  could  prevent  it  from  being  bought 
and  consumed.  In  November,  several  vessels,  loaded  by  the  East  India 
Company  with  tea,  arrived  in  Boston.118  One  of  these,  the  “Dart¬ 
mouth,”  anchored  in  the  harbour.  The  Custom  House  agents  and 
Governor  Hutchinson  insisted  that  the  tea  should  be  landed.  The 
patriots  had  resolved  that  the  cargo  should  not  lie  sent  ashore,  and  a 
guard  was  appointed  to  enforce  their  determination.  Placards  were 
prepared,  distributed  and  posted  all  over  the  city,  calling  a  meeting  at 
Faneuil  Hall.u!>  It  was  announced  that  the  bells  should  ring  at  nine 
o’clock  on  the  29th  of  November.  The  meeting  was  accordingly  held, 
and  inflammatory  speeclies  were  then  delivered  by  different  speakers. 
The  proceedings  lasted  until  nightfall,  when  candles  were  ordered. 
Faneuil  Hall  was  inadequate  to  hold  the  crowds  assembled,  and  they 
adjourned  to  the  Old  South  Church.  At  dusk,  and  in  accordance  with 
a  pre-arranged  plan,  just  as  the  candles  were  about  being  lighted,  a 
man  in  the  gallery,  and  disguised  as  a  Mohawk  Indian,  raised  a  war- 
whoop,  which  was  answered  by  the  crowd  without.  Another 
voice  in  the  gallery  shouted  :  “  Let  us  make  Boston  Har¬ 
bour  a  tea-pot  to-night  !  ”  Then  several  shouted :  “  Hurrah ! 

for  Griffin’s  Wharf.”  The  meeting  was  then  adjourned.  Numbers  of 
persons  disguised  as  Indians  assembled  on  the  wharf.  Under  the 
guidance  of  one  Pitts,  who  seemed  to  be  their  leader,  the  citizens 
boarded  the  “  Dartmouth  ”  and  took  up  the  hatches ;  when  bringing 
the  tea  on  deck,  they  broke  open  one  hundred  and  fourteen  chests,  cast¬ 
ing  their  contents  into  the  water.120 

The  report  of  this  daring  riot  was  received  with  exasperation  and 
recrimination  in  England,  where  a  determination  was  formed  of  pro¬ 
ceeding  to  extreme  measures  with  the  people  of  Boston.  It  was  now 
proposed,  that  a  whole  city  should  be  punished  for  an  offence  committed 
by  a  small  number  of  its  inhabitants,  and  that  its  port  should  be  closed. 
No  goods  were  to  be  shipped  from  or  landed  there,  until  the  citizens 
should  express  a  due  sense  of  their  error,  and  make  full  compensation 
to  the  East  India  Company  for  their  loss.  Then,  if  it  saw  sufficient 
reason,  the  Crown  might  restore  its  last  privileges.121  In  the  beginning 
of  1774,  England  resolved  on  this  stern  policy  of  retaliation,  and  the 
English  Parliament  had  even  taken  measures  to  revoke  many 


with  notes,  by  Dr.  Doran,  Vol. 
i. ,  pp.  250,  251.  London,  1859, 

8vo. 

118  See  William  Edward  Hartpole 
Leeky’s  “History  of  England  in  the 
Eighteenth  Century,”  Vol.  iii.,  chap, 
xii.,  pp.  386,  387. 

119  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of 


the  United  States,”  Vol.  vi.,  chap,  i., 
pp.  465  to  489. 

120  See  Pitkin’s  “Political  and  Civil 
History  of  the  United  States  of 
America,”  Vol.  i. ,  pp.  262  to  265. 

121  See  Hugh  Murray’s  “  United 
States  of  America,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xi.,  pp. 
357,  358. 


MEETING  OF  FIRST  OR  OLD  REVOLUTIONARY  CONGRESS.  151 

provincial  powers  and  prerogatives.122  A  Bill  framed  in  such 
a  spirit  was  introduced,  and  a  few  who  opposed  it  could  only 
obtain  a  hearing  with  extreme  difficulty.  In  the  House  of  Com¬ 
mons  several  members  bitterly  denounced  the  people  of  Boston,123 
and  the  most  imprudent  violence  of  invective  was  hurled  against  the 
Americans.  The  second  reading  of  this  Bill  passed  without  even  a 
division.124  A  petition  was  then  presented  by  the  Lord  Mayor  of  London, 
and  by  some  Americans  resident  there,  urging  that  the  citizens  of  Boston 
had  not  been  heard  in  their  own  defence,  nor  had  redress  been  sought 
at  common  law,  while  the  offence  had  not  been  committed  within  its 
limits.  On  this  occasion,  Edmund  Burke  strongly  sided  with  the 
Americans.  He  delivered  a  splendid  speech,  on  the  19th  April,  in 
defence  of  their  rights,  and  on  the  subject  of  American  taxation.125  He 
voted  against  the  Port  Bill.  In  the  House  of  Lords,  it  was  denounced 
by  Rockingham,  Richmond  and  Shelbourne.126  Despite  all  opposition 
it  became  a  law.127 

The  Boston  Port  Bill  was  intended  to  crush  the  trade  of  the  city, 
and  to  bring  great  distress  upon  its  inhabitants.  But  furthermore,  by 
another  Bill  which  was  passed,  town  meetings  were  to  be  prohibited 
except  by  permission  of  the  Governor,  who  was  also  to  have  the  appoint¬ 
ment  of  all  civil  officers,  except  that  of  the  supreme  judges.  Moreover, 
a  third  Bill  was  introduced  and  passed,  so  that  individuals  charged  with 
offences  against  the  State  might  be  removed  to  England,  where  hostile 
juries  could  be  found  to  convict  them.  Universal  indignation  and 
opposition  were  awakened  by  these  enactments,  as  successively  the  news 
had  been  conveyed  to  America.  In  the  province  of  Massachusetts  and 
city  of  Boston  acts  of  turbulence,  disorder  and  violence  followed,  and  pre¬ 
parations  for  rebellion  were  secretly  arranged.  The  other  provinces 
openly  expressed  their  hearty  sympathy  with  Boston,  and  declared  that  the 
cause  of  that  city  was  their  own.  They  endorsed  its  opposition,  and 
prepared  to  support  any  action  taken  by  its  people.  As  usual,  Virginia 
was  foremost  in  the  field,  and  the  House  of  Assembly  appointed  the  day 
named  for  closing  the  port  of  Boston  to  be  one  of  fasting  and  of  deep 
humiliation.  This  proceeding  was  so  distasteful  to  the  Governor,  that 
he  immediately  dissolved  the  Assembly.  However,  a  great  majority  of 
the  members  formed  themselves  into  an  association,  and  they  passed 


122 See  James  Graham’s  “History of 
the  United  States  of  North  America,” 
VoL  iv.,  Book  xi.,  chap,  vi.,  pp.  342-346. 

123  Mr.  Herbert,  an  English  member, 
said  of  them :  “They  are  never  actuated 
by  decency  or  reason  ;  they  always 
choose  tarring  and  feathering  as  an 
argument.”  Another  English  member 
denounced  them  as  “  utterly  unworthy 
of  civilized  forbearance.” 

124  See  Rev.  Francis  Thackeray’s 
“History  of  the  Right  Honourable 


William  Pitt,  Earl  of  Chatham,”  &c., 
Vol  ii.,  chap,  xxvi.,  pp.  259,  260. 

125  See  ‘  ‘Works  of  the  Right  Honour¬ 
able  Edmund  Burke,”  Vol.  i.,  London 
edition,  1792,  et  seq.,  4to, 

126  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  vi.,  chap.  lii. 
pp.  503  to  528. 

127  See  William  Edward  Hartpole 
Lecky’s  “History  of  England  in  the 
Eighteenth  Centurv,”  Vol.  iii.,  chap, 
xii.,  p.  397- 


152 


IRI8H-AMER1CAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


resolutions  expressive  of  strong  indignation.  The  declarations  of 
Virginia  were  everywhere  enthusiastically  received  by  the  people.  It 
was  next  resolved  to  initiate  an  organization,  so  as  to  take  joint  action, 
and  the  idea  of  a  general  convention  was  entertained.  The  city  of 
Philadelphia  was  selected  as  the  scene  for  deliberation.  It  was  deemed 
necessary  however,  to  supersede  the  Governor  of  Massachusetts,  who 
had  become  extremely  unpopular.  Accordingly,  General  Gage  was 
appointed  to  unite  in  his  own  person  the  command  of  the  King’s  forces 
and  the  government  of  that  province.  For  that  purpose,  he  arrived  in 
Boston  May  13th  1774,  while  Hutchinson  sailed  for  England  on  the 
1st  of  June  following.128 

Proposals  for  a  General  Congress  of  delegates  were  made  by  the 
Assemblies  of  several  colonies,  in  May  1774.  These  propositions  were 
warmly  received  throughout  the  provinces.  Accordingly,  an  assembly 
of  fifty -five  delegates,  representing  all  the  colonies  except  Georgia,  met 
in  Philadelphia.  Among  the  most  distinguished  of  its  members  were 
George  Washington,  Patrick  Henry  and  Richard  Henry  Lee,  of  Virginia; 
Samuel 129  and  John  Adams,130  of  Massachusetts;  John  Jay,  Philip 
Livingstone  and  J ames  Duane,  of  New  York ;  Roger  Sherman,  of  Connec¬ 
ticut  ;  Edward  and  John  Rutledge 131  and  Christopher  Gadsden,  of  South 
Carolina.132  That  Congress  was  opened  on  the  5th  of  September  1774, 
under  the  presidency  of  Peyton  Randolph  of  Virginia.  The  members  had 
determined  that  their  deliberations  should  be  secret,  that  their  results 
should  be  given  to  the  world  as  unanimous,  and  that  no  differences  of 
opinion  should  be  allowed  to  transpire.  A  committee  was  immediately 
appointed,  to  report  upon  their  rights  violated,  the  injuries  sustained, 
and  their  mode  for  redress.133  Charles  Thompson  was  appointed 
Secretary134  of  the  First  or  the  Old  Revolutionary  Congress,135  and  he 
was  indefatigable  while  discharging  the  duties  of  his  onerous  and 


128 See  Thomas  Hutchinson’s  “History 
of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay 
from  1749  to  1774,”  chap.  iii.  ,pp.  458 
to  460. 

129  He  was  born  at  Boston,  Massachu¬ 
setts,  in  1722,  and  he  was  educated  in 
Harvard  University.  He  became  a 
merchant,  but  he  took  a  most  active 
part  in  politics.  In  1765,  he  was  chosen 
a  representative  for  the  town  of  Boston 
in  the  General  Assembly.  He  was 
greatly  distinguished  for  his  abilities, 
zeal  and  influence. 

13°  For  an  account  of  this  distinguished 
statesman  see  “  The  Life  and  Writings 
of  John  Adams,  Second  President  of 
the  United  States.”  Edited  by  hia 
Grandson,  Charles  Francis  Adams.  Ten 
vols.  Boston,  8vo. 

131  He  was  the  son  of  an  Irish  doctor. 
He  was  a  soldier  as  well  as  a  states¬ 


man,  and  he  was  nominated  President 
and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Colony 
of  South  Carolina.  After  the  war,  he 
was  elevated  to  the  seat  of  Chief  Jus¬ 
tice  of  the  United  States. 

532 For  further  particulars  regarding 
eminent  persons  who  figured  in  the 
American  Revolution,  the  reader  is  i  e- 
ferred  to  “  The  Library  of  American 
Biography,”  conducted  by  Jared 
Sparks.  New  Series ;  complete  in  fif¬ 
teen  volumes,  each  volume  containing 
a  Portrait  or  a  neatly  engraved  Histori¬ 
cal  Sketch.  Boston,  12mo, 

133  See  Hugh  Murray’s  “United  States 
of  America,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xi.,  page 
367 • 

134  To  this  office  he  was  elected,  on 
the  5th  September  1774. 

135  It  met  in  Carpenters’  Hall,  Phila¬ 
delphia. 


DECLARATION  OF  COLONIAL  RIGHTS. 


153 


continuous  office.136  Some  of  the  deputies  were  inclined  for  moderate 
and  conciliatory  courses ;  but,  for  the  most  part,  their  policy  was  over¬ 
ruled.  Separate  committees  were  formed,  to  frame  separate  addresses 
to  the  people  of  Great  Britain,  to  the  King,  to  the  Colonists,  and  to  the 
Canadians.137  Having  undergone  some  revision,  they  were  published, 
and  couched  in  a  tone  politic  yet  firm ;  they  expressed  an  ardent  desire 
to  maintain  union  with  the  mother  country,  but  without  forfeiture  of 
their  rights,  and  to  be  loyal  subjects,  anxious  to  contribute  with  their 
utmost  power  towards  the  welfare  of  the  whole  empire.  They  de¬ 
manded  a  status  recognised  at  the  conclusion  of  the  late  war,  and  they 
exhorted  the  people  of  Massachusetts  to  resist  Acts  under  the  new 
constitution.  They  declared,  that  after  the  1st  of  December  1774,  if 
their  just  demands  were  not  satisfied,  no  article  should  be  imported 
from  the  mother  country  to  the  colonies ;  138  and,  failing  their  objects, 
all  exports  from  America  should  cease  on  the  10th  of  September  1775. 
In  every  resolution  passed  by  this  Assembty,  hostility  to  England  was 
impliedly  expressed.  They  refused  to  submit  to  the  new  imposts, 
which  they  denounced  as  tyrannical,  and  they  cordially  concurred  in 
the  resolutions  of  the  provincial  Assemblies,  forbidding  and  denouncing 
the  use  of  English  manufactures.  Still,  there  was  no  open  threat  of 
resisting  the  power  of  England  by  force  of  arms. 

Meantime,  matters  were  becoming  daily  more  menacing  in  Massa¬ 
chusetts.139  General  Gage  had  summoned  the  Assembly  to  meet  at  Salem 
on  the  5th  of  October,  and  he  had  already  nominated  thirty-six  coun¬ 
cillors.  Although  twenty-four  of  these  had  accepted  his  appointment, 
the  greater  number,  influenced  by  fear  or  persuasion,  had  been  induced 
to  resign.  He  thereupon  issued  a  proclamation  countermanding  the 
writs.  However,  the  members  treating  it  as  illegal,  repaired  to  Salem 
on  the  day  appointed,  and  there  for  a  day,  they  went  through  the  form 
of  waiting  for  the  Governor,  who  did  not  arrive.  Then,  their  sittings 
were  removed  to  Concord,  about  twenty  miles  from  Boston.  Those 
deputies  passed  a.  vote  to-  enrol  twelve  thousand  Minute  Men,  who 
should  be  pledged  to  march  at  a  minute’s  notice  in  defence  of  their 
country.  They  established  in  various  parts  of  the  country  depots  of 
arms  and  ammunition,140  and  decreed  that  the  taxes  should  remain  in 


136  As  Secretary,  he  continued  in  each 
successive  Congress  until  the  adoption 
of  the  Federal  Constitution,  in  1789. 
Afterwards,  he  retired  from  public  life, 
and  devoted  himself  to  literary  pursuits. 
He  attained  a  venerable  old  age,  and 
he  died  at  Lower  Merion,  Pennsylvania, 
August  16th  1824. 

133  Efforts  were  secretly  made  by  this 
Assembly  to  kindle  in  Canada  the  fire 
of  insurrection.  The  inhabitants  of 
this  British  province  they  exhorted 
to  make  common  oause  with  them¬ 
selves. 


138  See  William  Edward  Hartpole 
Lecky’s  “  History  of  England  in  the 
Eighteenth  Century,”  Vol-  iii.,  chap, 
xii.,  pp.  410,  411. 

139 See  the  “Hibernian  Magazine” 
Vol.  iv.,  for  December  1774,  p.  730. 
The  first  Volume  of  this  periodical  ap¬ 
peared  in  Dublin,  1771,  8vo.  It  con¬ 
tinued  to  be  published  for  many  sub¬ 
sequent  years. 

140  See  William  Edward  Hartpole 
Lecky’s  “  History  of  England  in  the 
Eighteenth  Century,”  Vol.  iii..  chap, 
xii.,  p.  108. 


154  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

the  hands  of  the  revenue  officers  for  patriotic  purposes.  They  issued 
directions  for  disciplining  the  militia,  and  for  administering  various 
branches  of  the  local  government.  They  sent  explanatory  letters  to 
the  English  General  Gage,  commanding  in  Boston  ;  but,  it  was  rather  a 
remonstrance,  regarding  the  increase  of  troops  there,  and  on  the 
fortifying  of  that  city.  He  repelled  their  complaints,  and  he  had  recourse 
to  a  proclamation,  that  their  assembling  was  illegal,  and  that  no  regard 
should  be  paid  to  their  usurped  authority.141  However,  his  mandates 
were  entirely  disregarded,  while  theirs  met  with  implicit  obedience. 
They  adjourned,  however,  with  an  appointment  to  meet  at  Cambridge 
on  the  4th  of  February  17  7  5. 142  After  a  session  of  the  Continental 
Congress  lasting  for  seven  weeks,  a  Declaration  of  Colonial  Rights  was 
agreed  to,  and  in  it  were  set  forth  these  principles  of  the  people  being 
alone  competent  to  make  the  laws  which  were  to  bind  them,  and  to  im¬ 
pose  their  own  taxes,  A  protest  was  made  against  the  tyrannical  Acts  of 
Parliament,  passed  since  the  accession  of  George  III.  An  American 
Association  was  also  formed.  Its  members  were  pledged  not  to  trade 
with  Great  Britain  nor  the  West  Indies,  nor  with  any  state  or  province, 
seeking  to  introduce  British  taxed  goods.  Unless  their  grievances  were 
redressed,  provision  was  made  for  convoking  another  Congress,  which 
was  to  meet  the  following  May. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


Precautions  taken  by  General  Gage — the  Loyalists — Proceedings  in  England — 
Breaking  out  of  the  War  at  Lexington — Spread  of  the  Revolt — Proceedings 
of  the  Second  Continental  Congress — First  Success  of  the  Patriots — George 
Washington  appointed  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  American  Forces — Battle 
at  Bunker’s  Hill — Organization  of  the  American  Army — Progress  of  the 
Insurrection — Expedition  against  the  English  in  Canada  under  Command  of 
Brigadier  General  Richard  Montgomery — First  Success — Assault  on  Quebec — 
Montgomery's  Defeat  and  heroic  Death. 

In  the  beginning  of  1775,  a  Provincial  Congress  had  assembled  in 
Massachusetts,  under  the  Presidency  of  John  Hancock.  Measures 
were  taken  to  call  out  the  militia,1  as  also  to  collect  arms  and  munitions  of 
war.2  A  committee  of  public  safety  was  appointed,  with  power  to 
assemble  bands  whenever  they  thought  proper  ;  as  likewise,  a  subordi¬ 
nate  committee  of  supplies  empowered  to  purchase  such  articles  as  the 


141  See  Hugh  Murray’s  "  United 
States  of  America,”  Vol.  i. ,  chap,  xi., 
p.  373. 

142  See  William  Edward  Hartpole 
Lecky’s  "  History  of  England  in  the 
Eighteenth  Century,”  Vol.  iii. ,  chap, 
xii.,  p.  412. 

1  These  were  called  Minute  Men,  be¬ 


cause  they  were  under  obligation  to 
assemble  in  arms  after  a  minute’s  warn¬ 
ing. 

2  Carlo  Botta  wrote  an  impartial 
history  of  this  War  in  Italian :  ‘‘Storia 
della  Guerra  dell’  Independenza  degli 
Stati  Uniti  d  America,”  in  Four  vols. 
Parigi,  1809,  8vo.  This  History  of  the 


THE  LOYALISTS. 


155 

public  exigencies  required.3  Under  this  arrangement,  and  acting  in 
concert,  both  committees  laid  in  a  quantity  of  stores  for  warlike  opera¬ 
tions,  partly  at  Worcester,  and  partly  at  Concord.  That  Congress  sent 
trusted  messengers  to  New  Hampshire,  Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut, 
to  inform  the  people  there  regarding  those  measures  they  had  taken, 
and  to  request  their  co-operation  in  making  up  an  army  of  20,000  men. 
Meantime,  General  Gage  was  active,  endeavouring  to  suppress  any 
insubordination  manifested  by  rebels  within  the  town  of  Boston,  while 
he  pursued  a  course  of  rigorous  surveillance  towards  them.  He  was 
then  Governor,  having  about  4,000  troops  under  his  command,  and  he 
sent  a  request  to  the  British  Ministry  for  20,000  more.  By  his  orders, 
all  intercourse  with  the  country  was  cut  off,  and  none  were  allowed  to 
leave  the  town  without  his  permission.  The  supply  of  provisions  and 
fuel  was  thus  stopped ;  and  all  at  once,  the  inhabitants  began  to  feel 
the  hardships  and  annoyances  of  war. 

Notwithstanding  those  precautions,  Gage  himself  began  to  feel  uneasy, 
although  Boston  contained  a  great  number  of  loyalists  ;  while  these  men 
were  excessively  zealous,  in  supporting  the  measuresof  the  British  govern¬ 
ment.4  The  more  wealthy  settlers — denominated  Tories — were  generally 
partisans  of  England.  In  the  cities  and  towns,  several  had  official, 
commercial  and  social  relations  with  that  country,  not  alone  in  Boston  and 
in  Massachusetts,5  but  throughout  all  America.6  New  York  was  undeni¬ 
ably  the  loyalists’  stronghold,  and  it  contained  more  of  them  than  did 
any  other  colony.7  Its  peculiar  social  and  political  institutions  had 
formed  there  a  feudal  aristocracy,  and  that  landed  proprietory  was  cal¬ 
culated  to  give  the  Tory  party  many  adherents.8  In  Connecticut,  the 
number  of  crown  partisans  was  greater  in  proportion  to  the  population, 
than  in  any  other  of  the  New  England  Colonies.  Maine  had  a  con¬ 
siderable  number  of  Tories.9  The  loyalists  were  many  and  powerful  in 


War  of  Independence  of  the  United 
States  of  America  has  been  translated 
from  the  Italian,  into  French,  with  an 
introduction  by  M.  de  Sevelinges,  Four 
vols.,  Paris,  1812,  1813,  8vo.  Also,  it 
was  rendered  into  English,  by  George 
Alexander  Otis.  It  was  published  at 
Philadelphia,  1820,  in  four  octavo  vols., 
and  afterwards  at  Edinburgh,  1 844,  8vo. 

3  Over  £15,000  were  voted  for  this 
purpose. 

4  In  Boston  they  formed  themselves 
into  a  regiment  under  one  Ruggles. 

6  Upwards  of  eleven  hundred  loyalists 
retired  in  a  body  with  the  Royal  army 
at  the  evacuation  of  Boston.  Other 
migrations  preceded  and  succeeded  this ; 
while  two  thousand,  at  the  lowest  com¬ 
putation,  embarked  at  different  ports  of 
M  assachusetts  during  the  Revolutionary 
War 


6  See  Lieutenant  James  Moody’s 
“  Narrative  of  his  Exertions  and  Suf¬ 
ferings  in  the  Cause  of  Government 
since  the  Year  1776.”  London,  1782, 
8vo. 

7  See  “  The  American  Loyalists  ;  or 
Biographical  Sketches  of  Adherents  to 
the  British  Crown  in  the  War  of  the 
Revolution,”  alphabetically  arranged ; 
with  a  preliminary  historical  Essay. 
By  Lorenzo  Sabine.  Boston,  8vo. 

8  Numbers  in  New  York  entered  the 
service  of  the  crown,  and  fought  in  its 
defence.  Whole  regiments  and  even 
battalions  there  were  raised  by  the 
great  landholders,  while  those  continued 
organized  and  in  pay  throughout  the 
whole  struggle. 

9  Numbers  of  these  were  proscribed 
and  banished,  however,  after  the  war 
had  broken  out. 


156  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 

different  parts  of  the  Colony  throughout  New  Hampshire.  Rhode 
Island  approached  nearer  to  the  democratic  standard  than  any  of  those 
already  mentioned;  although  even  there,  the  King  had  supporters  by 
no  means  insignificant  in  numbers.  Moreover,  as  in  all  such  contests, 
a  great  many  deemed  it  prudent,  to  adopt  a  moderate  course  of 
proceeding  for  obtaining  redress,  and  without  an  appeal  to  arms.  This 
latter  alternative  was  thought  by  them  to  be  inopportune  and  perilous, 
while  many  deprecated  engaging  in  rebellion,  through  conscientious 
motives.10 

Hardly  had  the  first  American  Congress  separated,  when  on  hearing 
of  its  proceedings  the  English  legislature  resolved  to  declare,  that 
Massachusetts  was  in  a  state  of  rebellion.  Parliament  had  opened  in 
1775,  and  the  20th  of  January  was  the  first  day  of  Session  in  the 
House  of  Lords.  Lord  Chatham  earnestly  pleaded  in  a  motion  brought 
for  removal  of  General  Gage’s  large  army  from  Boston,  as  creating 
popular  apprehension  and  tending  to  prevent  conciliation.11  The  King 
and  a  majority  of  the  ministry  were  inflexible.  They  resolved 
to  interdict  all  commerce  with  the  Americans,  to  protect  the 
Colonial  loyalists,  and  to  declare  all  others  traitors  and  rebels.  In 
the  presence  of  Franklin  and  a  crowd  of  Americans  at  the  bar,  when 
Lord  Dartmouth  had  laid  papers  before  the  house,  the  Earl  of  Chatham 
rose  and  moved  an  address  to  the  King,  that  he  might  issue  imme¬ 
diate  orders,  to  remove  his  forces  as  soon  as  possible  from  the  town, 
of  Boston.  Then,  he  delivered  a  most  eloquent  and  argumentative 
harangue,  to  open  the  way  for  reconciliation  ;  he  defended  the  Colonial 
resistance  to  taxation  without  representation  ;  he  declared,  that  the 
spirit  of  liberty  animated  three  millions  in  America,  while  the  Whigs 
in  England  were  estimated  by  him  to  be  even  double  that  number.  He 
also  exclaimed,  “  Ireland  they  have  to  a  man.’;  By  others,  Chatham 
was  also  supported ;  but,  his  motion  was  rejected  by  sixty-eight  against 
eighteen.12 

Although  Gage  had  asked  for  a  reinforcement  of  20,000  men,  hie 
proposal  was  rejected  with  scorn  by  the  Ministry ;  yet  it  was  osten¬ 
tatiously  heralded,  that  seven  hundred  marines  from  England,  with 
three  regiments  of  infantry  and  one  regiment  of  light  horse,  drawn 
from  the  Irish  establishment,  in  all  comprising  over  3,000  men,  should 
be  prepared  for  embarkation,  to  encourage  the  American  loyalists. 
Besides,  two  frigates  and  six  sloops  of  war  were  fitted  out  and  destined 
for  Boston.  On  the  1st  of  February,  the  Earl  of  Chatham  presented  a 
Bill  for  true  reconcilement  and  national  accord,  proposing  that  the 
Parliament  should  repeal  the  statutes  complained  of,  and  renounce  the 
power  of  taxation.  It  was  rejected  on  the  first  reading,  by  a  vote  of 


10  Among  these  chiefly  were  the 
Quakers  in  Pennsylvania.  See  “  En¬ 
quire-  into  the  Losses  and  Services  of 
th©  American  Loyalists,”  1789. 

11  See  Charles  Mackay’a  “Histery  of 


the  United  States  of  America,”  Vol.  i., 
Book  ii.,  chap,  vi.,  pp.  249,  250. 

12  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  vii.,  chap 
xviii.,  pp.  194  to  205. 


PROCEEDINGS  IN  ENGLAND. 


157 


sixty-one  to  thirty-two.13  A  warm  debate  took  place,  also,  in  the  House 
of  Commons,  regarding  the  propriety  of  coercing  the  Americans.  How¬ 
ever,  the  ministerial  measure  was  carried  in  the  affirmative,  by  ayes, 
304  ;  nays,  105. 14  iiOtwitlistanding  the  strong  opposition,16  a  joint 
resolution  of  both  houses  was  carried,  pledging  the  P»*d*ament  and  the 
whole  force  of  Great  Britain,  to  reduce  Massachusetts,  to  starve  New 
England  by  prohibiting  the  American  Fisheries,  to  call  out  the  savages 
in  the  rear  of  the  colonies,  and  to  excite  a  servile  insurrection.  This 
was  brought  up  in  the  shape  of  an  address  to  the  King,  on  the  9th  of 
February,  and  he  returned  a  reply,  pledging  himself  speedily  and 
effectually  to  enforce  obedience  to  the  laws  and  to  the  authority  of  the 
supreme  legislature.16  In  February,  Sir  William  Howe  was  appointed 
Commander-in-Chief  of  the  English  land  forces,  while  his  brother 
Admiral  Lord  Howe  Avas  announced  as  commander  of  the  naval  forces, 
and  as  an  official  pacificator ;  for,  it  was  pretended,  that  the  olive 
branch  should  be  held  out  when  the  sword  was  suspended.17  As  usual, 
the  British  ministry  miscalculated  the  relative  resources  and  spirit  of 
their  troops  and  those  of  the  Colonists ;  but,  that  expedition  was 
prepared  for  departure,  and  with  the  most  confident  expectation  of  its 
success.18 

In  the  March  of  1775,  the  celebrated  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson  wrote  and 
published  his  treatise,  “  Taxation  no  Tyranny,  an  answer  to  the  Reso¬ 
lutions  and  Address  of  the  American  Congress.19  It  was  filled  with 
bitterness  and  rancour  against  the  Americans  ;  it  was  despotic  in  tone, 
full  of  unparalleled  insolence  and  rhetorical  extravagance,  but  utterly 
void  of  convincing  arguments.  Several  replies  to  this  pamphlet 
appeared  at  the  time,  controverting  his  statements  and  attempted 
reasoning.  In  a  celebrated  speech,  on  the  22nd  of  March,  Edmund 
Burke  eloquently  moved  his  thirteen  conciliatory  measures  towards 
America,-0  and  which  were  rejected.  The  nays  numbered  270,  the  ayes 
only  78.21  To  quiet  the  disturbed  state  of  feeling  in  Ireland,  owing  to 


!S  See  “  Plan  offered  by  the  Earl  of 
Chatham  to  the  House  of  Lords,  en¬ 
titled  a  provisional  Act  for  settling 
the  Troubles  in  America,”  &c.,  which 
was  rejected  and  not  suffered  to  lie 
cm  the  Table.  I/ondon,  1775,  4to. 

M  In  the  minority  were  Edmund 
Burke,  Barre,  Connolly,  and  other 
Irishmen. 

15  Then  Charles  James  Fox  signa¬ 
lized  the  extent  of  his  abilities  for 
the  first  time,  while  deprecating  the 
measures  of  Government,  in  a  grand 
speech,  which  lasted  an  hour  and 
twenty  minutes.  See  allusion  to  it  in 
the  Rt.  Hon.  Lord  John  Russell’s 
“  Life  and  Times  of  Charles  James 
Fox,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  vi.,  pp.  91  to  93. 

ie  See  Charles  Mackay’s  “  History 


of  the  United  States  of  America,” 
Vol.  i.,  Book  ii.,  chap,  vi.,  pp.  249 
to  251. 

17  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States,”  Vol.  vii.,  chap.  xxii. 

18 See  “Narrative  of  Lieutenant-Gene¬ 
ral  Sir  William  Howe  relative  to  his 
Conduct  during  his  command  of  the 
troops  of  North  America.”  This  was 
published  in  1780. 

19See  “The  Worksof  Samuel  Johnson, 
LL.D.”  Edited  by  Arthur  Murphy, 
Esq.  Vol .  viii. ,  pp.  155  to  204.  Lon¬ 
don,  1816,  8vo. 

20  See  “  Works  and  Correspondence 
of  the  Right  Honourable  Edmund 
Burke,”  Vol.  iii.,pp.  241  to  294.  Lon¬ 
don  edition,  1852,  8vo. 

31  See  the  “  Annual  Register  ”  for  the 


158  IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

the  restrictions  on  its  trade  and  commerce,  some  concessions  were  now 
made  in  favour  of  its  fishery  industries  ;  for  it  was  deemed,  that  assist¬ 
ance  should  be  required  from  the  Parliament  of  that  country,  in  the 
threatened  emergency  of  a  war  with  the  Colonists.22  A  petition  from 
Bristol  was  brought  before  the  House  by  Burke,  and  it  approved 
the  resistance  of  the  Americans.  Great  popular  excitement  grew  up 
throughout  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  as  a  consequence.  The  Lord 
Mayor  of  London,  John  Wilkes,  as  also  the  aldermen  and  livery,  went 
on  the  10th  of  April,  with  an  address  to  the  King,  and  it  approved  of 
their  resistance  to  establish  arbitrary  power  offered  by  the  Americans, 
while  they  prayed  the  dismissal  of  ministers.  The  King  was  highly 
incensed  at  this  incident.23  A  petition  from  the  city  of  Waterford, 
Ireland,  was  presented  to  the  House,  setting  forth  the  fatal  consequences 
that  should  result  to  their  citizens  in  particular,  and  to  the  kingdom  in 
general,  from  a  continuance  of  the  unhappy  differences  existing  between 
Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies.24  Meetings  were  held  in  Belfast,  also, 
approving  of  the  Americans’  resistance.  Subsequent  movements  took 
place  in  that  town,  and  its  people  sent  money  to  aid  the  American  patriots. 

The  ministry  now  adopted  stern  but  futile  measures  to  stem  the 
tide  of  revolt.  In  pursuance  of  these,  letters  were  written  to  Gage, 
that  he  should  take  possession  of  every  colonial  fort ;  that  he  should 
seize  and  secure  all  military  stores  of  every  kind  collected  for  the  rebels  ; 
that  he  should  arrest  and  imprison  all  such  as  were  thought  to  have 
committed  treason  ;  that  he  should  repress  rebellion  by  force,  to  make 
public  safety  the  first  object  of  consideration;  and  that  he  should  sub¬ 
stitute  more  coercive  measures  for  ordinary  forms  of  proceeding,  without 
pausing  to  require  the  aid  of  a  civil  magistrate.  The  president  and  most 
forward  members  of  the  seditious  congress  were  to  be  exempt  from  his 
power  of  pardon,  and  these  were  to  suffer  condign  punishment  by 
prosecution,  either  in  America  or  in  England.'25 

Having  been  informed,  that  arms  and  ammunition  had  been  stored 
at  Concord,  sixteen  miles  from  Boston,  Gage  then  arranged  to  send  800 
regular  troops  by  night  to  capture  them.  However,  their  movements 
were  anticipated  ;  signals  were  given  and  bells  rung  ;  the  Minute  Men 
were  aroused  along  the  road.26  At  Lexington,  about  halfway  between 
Boston  and  Concord,  about  sixty  or  seventy  armed  patriots  took  up  a 
position,  where  they  stood  motionless,  refusing  to  surrender  their  arms, 
when  insolently  summoned  to  do  so  by  Major  Pitcairn,  in  command  of 
the  British  advance.  It  was  at  dawn,  on  the  19th  April,  when  he 
gave  orders  to  fire.  Eight  of  the  patriots  were  killed,  and  several  were 


year  1775,  Vol.  xviii.,  History  of  Europe 
chap,  vii.,  pp.  100  to  110. 

22  See  ibid.,  pp.  113  to  115. 

23 See  Bancroft’s  “History  of  the 
United  States,”  Vol.  vii.,  chap,  xxvi., 

pp.  282. 

24 See  the  “Annual  Register”  for  the 


year  1775,  Vol.  xviii.  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  vii.,  p.  102. 

25  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States.”  Vol.  vii.,  chap, 
xxvi.,  p.  284. 

26  See  the  “  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1775,  Vol.  xviii.  History 
of  Europe,  chap,  viii.,  p.  126. 


SPREAD  OF  THE  REVOLT. 


159 


wounded.'27  This  was  the  first  blood  drawn  in  the  War  for  Independence.28 
Meantime,  the  British  advanced  to  Concord  and  destroyed  some  stores. 
But  soon  the  Americans,  to  the  number  of  400  men  hastily  collected,  en¬ 
countered  them  near  that  town,  and  forced  them  back  after  an  effective 
fire.29  The  British  retreated  in  confusion  towards  Boston,  the  country 
rising  in  arms,  and  the  Minute  Men  firing  from  behind  trees  and  fences 
along  their  route.  This  caused  the  English  a  loss  of  273  men — of  whom 
65  were  killed — before  they  were  rescued  from  utter  destruction,  by 
the  arrival  of  Lord  Percy  with  large  reinforcements  to  cover 
their  retreat.  In  these  two  encounters,  the  Americans  lost  88  men.30 
Under  cover  of  their  war  ships,  the  British  encamped  for  that  night 
on  Bunker  Hill,  a  promontory  jutting  out  into  the  harbour,  and  just 
opposite  the  nearly  insulated  citv  of  Boston  From  this  exposed  position, 
they  soon  retired  into  the  town.31 

That  skirmish  at  Lexington  sent  an  electric  shock  through  the  whole 
American  community.  Soon  were  the  Colonists  aroused  for  resistance, 
and  a  patriotic  flame  was  everywhere  enkindled.  In  England  and  in 
Ireland,  the  news  of  American  disturbances  had  come  with  astonishment 
and  alarm;32  for  a  serious  and  sudden  Revolution  had  not  been 
anticipated.  Relying  on  the  aid  of  her  own  people,  and  desiring  the 
co-operation  of  her  sister  colonies,  a  Congress  assembled  at  Watertown, 
under  the  presidency  of  Dr.  Joseph  Warren.  Massachusetts  in  his 
name  issued  an  address,  dated  April  30th  1775,  and  couched  in  the 
most  inflammatory  terms.  Alluding  to  the  barbarous  murder  of  their 
brethren  killed  at  Lexington,  it  was  declared,  that  an  army  should  be 
raised  to  prevent  the  soldiers  in  revenge  from  ravaging  their  country 
with  fire  and  sword.  The  people  were  asked  to  hasten  and  to  encourage 
by  all  possible  means,  the  enlistment  of  men  to  form  the  army,  and  to 
send  them  forth  for  assemblage  in  head  quarters  at  Cambridge,  with 
that  expedition  which  the  vast  importance  and  instant  urgency  of 
existing  affairs  demanded.  The  Colonists  also  drew  up  an  address  of 
remonstrance  to  the  people  of  Great  Britain.33 

A  report  soon  spread,  that  the  English  troops  had  murdered  the 
people  in  and  around  Boston.34  In  less  than  three  days,  thirty  thousand 


27  Andrew  Browne  came  from  Ire¬ 
land  to  America  in  1773,  as  a  British 
soldier ;  he  deserted,  however,  and 
joined  the  rebels.  He  fought  at 
Lexington,  and  at  Bunker  Hill.  He 
served  with  distinction  throughout 
the  war.  He  afterwards  began  the 
publication  of  the  Philadelphia  Gaz¬ 
ette  in  1788. 

28  Among  the  “  Minute  Men  ”  who 
responded  to  the  call  at  the  Lexing¬ 
ton  alarm,  nearly  150  Irish  names  are 
preserved. 

29  Colonel  Barrett  was  the  recog¬ 
nised  leader  of  the  Colonists  during 
this  encounter. 


30  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  vii.,  chap, 
xxvii.-xxviii.,  pp.  288  to  310. 

31  See  “  Sargeant  R.  Lamb’s  Original 
and  Authentic  Journal  of  the  Occur¬ 
rences  of  the  late  American  W  ar  from 
its  commencement  to  1783,”  Dublin, 
1809.  8 vo. 

32  See  the  “  Hibernian  Magazine,” 
Vol.  v.,  for  January,  1775,  pp.  54,  55. 

33  See  the  “  Annual  Register”  of  the 
year  1775.  History  of  Europe,  chap, 
viii.,  p.  129. 

34  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States,”  Vol.  vii.,  chap, 
rcxix,  pp„  31 1  to  319. 


160 


1RISH-AM.ERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


men  were  inarching  towards  that  town,  in  order  to  aid  the  people 
assembled  at  Cambridge.  All  the  provinces  now  prepared  to  assume 
arms.  The  shrill  music  of  the  fife  and  the  rattle  of  the  military  drum 
were  heard.  Towns  and  villages  resounded  with  the  clash  of  muskets, 
or  glittered  with  the  swords  of  leaders ;  recruits  were  raised  and  drilled 
in  every  part  of  the  country.  The  various  revolutionary  committees 
laboured  day  and  night  to  supply  arms  and  munitions ;  thus  to  further 
the  patriotic  work,  on  which  they  were  now  engaged.  When  John  Stark35 
heard  of  the  massacre  at  Lexington,  he  was  quietly  engaged  working  on 
his  farm  in  New  Hampshire.  However,  he  resolved  to  take  an  active  part 
in  the  coming  struggle.30  So  popular  was  he,  that  in  a  few  hours  he  en¬ 
listed  eight  hundred  men.37  With  these  he  marched  to  Cambridge,  where 
a  camp  had  been  formed,  and  to  which  as  the  rallying  point  all  the  revo¬ 
lutionary  levies  were  now  directed.  The  deplorable  social  and  political 
state  of  Ireland,  and  especially  of  the  Irish  Catholics,  towards  the 
middle  of  the  eighteenth  century,  had  caused  many  to  seek  in  America 
the  means  for  living  and  of  distinction,  which  they  could  not  obtain  at 
home.  These  emigrants  and  their  children  were  among  the  most  ardent 
and  devoted  lovers  of  freedom,  in  the  countr}T  of  their  adoption.  When 
the  time  for  armed  resistance  arrived,  numbers  of  Irish  immigrants 
were  enrolled  in  the  distinctive  American  army  raised  by  Congress  and 


36  He  was  the  son  of  parents  who 
emigrated  from  the  North  of  Ireland, 
and  who  settled  at  Londonderry,  New 
Hampshire.  They  had  brought  potatoes 
from  their  own  country,  and  there  cul¬ 
tivated  them,  while  it  is  said,  the  seed 
was  thence  propagated  extensively 
through  America,  so  that  the  designa* 
tion  of  “  Irish  potatoe ”  soon  marked' 
the  product,  and  even  yet  it  is  the  gene¬ 
rally  used  term,  in  contradistinction  to 
the  yam  or  “  sweet  potatoe.”  He  was 
born  August  28th  1 728.  Early  distin¬ 
guished  for  daring  and  adventure,  he 
had  bravely  served  through  the  French 
and  Indian  wars  on  the  side  of  the 
English.  He  afterwards  became  a 
strenuous  and  fearless  defender  of 
Colonial  rights. 

36  As  he  had  been  greatly  distinguished 
in  the  previous  colonial  wars,  the  British 
endeavoured  to  bribe  him,  by  oSering 
him  a  colonel’s  commission  and  a  regi¬ 
ment  of  infantry.  But  Stark  spurned 
their  offer,  and  he  now  set  about  raising 
a  regiment  of  Irish  and  Irish-American 
rebels,  who  had  largely  colonised  the  dis¬ 
tricts  around  him. 

37 The  following  are  the  recorded  names 
of  one  company  raised  in  Bedford,  and 
from  it,  the  reader  may  foim  an  estimate 


of  the  number  of  Irish  or  Irish- Americans 
recruited  in  New  Hampshire  for  the 
Revolutionary  forces  :  namely,  Colonel 
Daniel  Moore,  Major  John  Goffe,  Captain 
T.  McLoughlin,  Lieutenant  John  Patten, 
John  Patten  Senior,  Samuel  Patten, 
James  Patten,  Robert  Patten,  John 
Gault,  Isaac  Riddle,  John  Riddle,  A. 
Martin,  James  Martin,  Stephen  Goffe, 
Hugh  Horton,  Burns  Chandler,  Samuel 
Moore,  Samuel  Barr,  John  Callahan 
(killed),  James  Moore,  Ira  Greer,  William 
Parker,  John  McAllister,  John  Griffer, 
Robert  Victorey,  Daniel  Larkin, 
James  Patterson,  John  O’Neill, 
George  Hogg,  W.  Gilmore,  James 
Houston,  John  Ross,  Stephen  March, 
John  Tyrrel,  Patrick  O’Flynn,  C. 
Johnston,  John  Gardiner,  Robert 
Cornell,  John  Hiller,  Jones  Cutting, 
John  Hiller,  Barnet  McClair,  Luke 
Gardner,  R.  Dalrymple  (killed),  Sam¬ 
uel  Patterson,  Solomon  Hemp, 
(killed),  John  Dorr  (killed),  William 
Houston,  Zac.  Chandler,  Valentine 
Sullivan,  John  Steel,  Robert  Morrel, 
Patrick  O’Murphy,  David  Riddle, 
Eben  Sullivan,  and  eighteen  others, 
making  a  total  of  seventy-one  Irish¬ 
men,  or  Irish- Americans.  These  be¬ 
longed  to  one  New  Hampshire  com 
pany,  at  the  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 


SECOND  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS. 


161 


called  Continentals.  Moreover,  while  some  corps  were  mostly  natives, 
)7et  were  they  also  largely  composed  of  Irish. 

Driven  back  into  Boston,  and  cooped  up  in  that  town,  the  English 
were  besieged  and  threatened  by  a  clamorous  multitude,  rather  than  by 
a  disciplined  army.  That  unorganized  assemblage,  amounting  to  thirty 
thousaud  men,  was  constantly  increased  by  reinforcements  arriving 
from  all  quarters.  Some  came  with  effective  weapons,  others  hoped  to 
obtain  arms.  A  partial  and  an  irregular  muster  of  the  militia  was 
effected.  After  various  plans  had  been  considered,  preparations 
were  accordingly  made  to  besiege  the  city.  The  pulpit,  the  bench, 
the  press  and  the  bar  were  now  united  in  appeals  to  the  people’s 
patriotism.  The  charge  of  rebellion  was  denied,  and  the  resistance 
of  the  colonies  was  justified,  by  speakers  and  writers.  A  distinc¬ 
tion  was  drawn  between  the  King  and  his  ministry ;  the  phrase 
of  a  ministerial  war.  in  opposition  to  the  wishes  of  the  British 
nation,  became  very  common  ;  while  it  was  used  as  a  medium  for 
reconciling  resistance  with  allegiance.  The  American  people  began 
then  to  organize  their  bands,  and  they  took  up  arms  to  oppose  a 
large  military  expedition  of  land  and  sea  forces,  under  the  command  of 
Generals  Howe,38  Buigoyne  and  Chnton.  These  the  English  Ministry 
had  despatched,  and  with  a  numerous  fleet  they  arrived  on  the  25th  of 
May.39  These  were  soon  followed  by  several  regiments  from  Ireland. 

Meantime,  the  patriots  had  stationed  forces  at  convenient  places 
throughout  Massachusetts,  to  prevent  further  raids  by  the  regulars  in 
Boston.  Posts  and  pickets,  behind  entrenched  or  barricaded  positions, 
hemmed  in  that  town.  A  peninsula  connected  old  Boston  with  the 
mainland.  Ships  of  war  rode  in  the  harbour,  while  considerable  forces 
garrisoned  the  town,40  and  more  were  expected  soon  to  arrive.  When 
these  reached  Boston  harbour,  the  English  became  aware,  that  a  great 
but  an  undisciplined  army  surrounded  the  town  ;  while  the  watchfires 
at  night  showed  their  vast  numbers,  spread  around  in  every  direction. 
Such  portents  filled  their  foes  with  astonishment,  but  not  with  dismay. 
In  the  American  camp,  divided  commands  and  divergent  counsels  pre¬ 
vailed,  while  excitement  and  confusion  were  ripe  duiing  the  whole  of 
May.  Towards  the  latter  end  of  that  month,  a  great  part  of  the  rein¬ 
forcements  ordered  from  Great  Britain  had  arrived  at  Boston.  Before 
proceeding  to  extremities,  however,  General  Gage  issued  a  proclamation 
holding  forth  to  the  people  the  alternative  of  peace  or  war,  by  offering 
pardon  in  the  King’s  name,  to  all  who  should  lay  down  their 
arms  and  return  to  their  respective  peaceable  occupations.41  As  the 


38  See  “  Narrative  of  Lieutenant- 
General  Sir  William  Howe  relative  to 
his  Conduct  during  his  Command  of 
the  King’s  Troops  in  North  America.’’ 

39  These  various  measures  and  pro¬ 
ceedings  are  amply  detailed  in  Ban¬ 
croft’s  “History  of  the  United 
States.”  Hi»  seventh  and  succeeding 


volumes  are  devoted  to  a  History  of 
the  War  of  Independence. 

40  See  Richard  Frothingham’s  “  His¬ 
tory  of  the  Siege  of  Boston,  and  of 
the  Battles  of  Lexington,  Concord, 
and  Bunker  Hill.”  Boston,  8vo. 

41  From  this  pardon  were  impru¬ 
dently  excluded  Samuel  Adams  and 


162 


IRISII-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Courts  of  Judicature  were  then  closed,  martial  law  was  pro¬ 
claimed. 

Having  received  their  instructions  from  those  various  colonies  that 
had  chosen  them  as  delegates,  the  second  Continental  Congress  now 
met,  to  deliberate  on  a  future  course  of  action.  When  assembled  how¬ 
ever  the  members  were  greatly  divided  in  opinion.  The  more  moderate 
party  hoped  by  petition  and  appeal,  to  avoid  an  open  declaration  of 
war ;  but  the  more  sagacious  judged,  that  armed  resistance  to  the 
English  King  and  government  was  inevitable,  were  their  liberties  to  be 
preserved.  The  delegates  had  assembled  in  Philadelphia  in  the  Car¬ 
penters’  Hall,  on  tne  10th  of  May.  This  was  the  date  for  the  daring 
capture  of  Fort  Ticonderoga.  The  first  President  was  Peyton  Randolph 
of  Virginia,  but  on  the  24th  he  was  obliged  to  depart  for  the  legislature 
of  that  province.  By  unanimous  resolve,  and  chiefly  through  influence 
of  the  most  determined  spirits,  John  Hancock  of  Massachusetts  suc¬ 
ceeded  him  in  office.  Much  wavering  and  irresolution  governed  the 
proceedings  ;  for  while  the  delegates  directed  preparations  for  defence, 
they  would  not  authorize  the  several  colonies  to  institute  governments  of 
their  own.  They  were  alike  averse  to  a  surrender  of  liberty  and  to  a 
declaration  of  independence.  To  this  convention,  Charles  Thompson 
was  appointed  Secretary.  The  second  Continental  Congress  proceeded 
at  first  with  a  reserved  caution,  and  it  only  demanded  a  redress  of 
grievances.  However,  on  the  20th  of  May,  the  provincial  colonists  vir¬ 
tually  renounced  their  allegiance  to  governmental  authority.42  They 
had  also  retaliated  on  England,  by  strictly  prohibiting  the  supply  of  any 
kind  of  provision  to  the  British  fisheries  ;  while  this  caused  such  distress 
to  the  fishers  and  people  on  and  off  Newfoundland,  that  several  vessels 
were  under  a  necessity  of  returning  light  from  that  station,  to  carry  back 
cargoes  of  provisions  from  Ireland.43  On  the  Saturday  of  June  3rd,  three 
Committees  were  appointed  :  one  Committee  of  five  members  was 
formed  to  dvaft  an  address  to  the  King;  one  Committee  of  three  re¬ 
presentatives  to  draft  an  address  to  the  people  of  Great  Britain  ;  and  a 
Committee  of  four  members,  to  draft  an  address  to  the  people  of  Ireland. 
Another  object  it  had  also  in  view,  which  was  to  form  a  Federal  Union. 
However,  it  assumed  practically  to  be  a  responsible  government ;  it 
authorized  issuing  Bills  of  Credit,  and  with  a  view  to  eventualities,  it 
took  vigorous  measures  to  carry  on  a  war.  For,  the  maintenance  of  an 
army  and  for  the  necessities  of  an  organized  Government,  money  was 
absolutely  required.  The  New  York  convention  had  previously  reported 


John  Hancock,  as  also  their  ad¬ 
herents,  associates  and  correspond¬ 
ents.  These  should  be  deemed  guilty 
of  treason  and  rebellion,  according 
to  its  terms,  and  be  treated  accord¬ 
ingly. 

It  was  resolved :  “  That  it  be 

recommended  to  the  several  Assem¬ 
blies  and  Conventions  of  the  United 


Colonies,  where  no  government  suffi¬ 
cient  to  the  exigencies  of  their  affairs 
hath  hitherto  been  established,  toi 
adopt  such  a  government  as  shall,  in 
the  opinions  of  the  representatives  of 
the  people,  best  conduce  to  the  happi¬ 
ness  and  safetv  of  their  consitutents 
in  particular  and  of  America  in  general. 

43  See  the  “  Annual  Register "  for 


FIRST  SUCCESS  OK  THE  PATRIOTS.  16^5 

to  Congress  on  this  matter,  and  had  suggested  three  distinct  modes  for 
issuing  paper  money.  First,  that  each  Colony  might  issue  for  itself,  the 
sum  that  might  be  appropriated  to  it  by  Congress.  Secondly,  that  the 
united  colonies  should  issue  the  whole  sum  necessary,  and  that  each 
colony  should  become  bound  to  sink  its  proportionate  part.  Thirdly, 
that  when  Congress  should  issue  the  whole  sum,  every  colony  was  bound 
to  discharge  its  proportion,  while  the  united  colonies  should  be  obliged 
to  pay  that  part,  which  any  single  colony  might  fail  to  discharge.  This 
latter  plan  was  adopted  by  the  Continental  Congress,  during  the  course 
of  the  session  in  1775.  The  attention  of  Congress  was  also  turned 
towards  the  financial  affairs  of  the  country.  There  was  then  little 
money  in  their  treasury.  The  patriots  had  subscribed  all  and  some 
more  than  they  really  could  spare.  As  no  other  resource  was  open. 
Congress  at  length  determined  to  issue  paper  money.  The  most  impor¬ 
tant  and  difficult  obstacle  encountered  was  to  place  it  on  a  footing,  that 
should  command  public  confidence,  and  secure  it  from  depreciation. 
There  were  thousands  of  loyalists  in  every  part  of  the  country,  who  by 
all  means  in  their  power  endeavoured  to  cripple  the  resources  of  the 
growing  Republic,  and  to  place  all  obstacles  possible  in  the  way  of  ita 
final  triumph. 

Meantime,  various  partisan  attempts  were  directed  by  brave  indi¬ 
viduals  on  their  own  responsibility.  Among  these  must  be  noted 
General  John  Sullivan,  the  son  of  a  Limerick  schoolmaster,44  who  had 
already  captured  the  first  fort  and  the  first  gun  in  this  revolutionary  war, 
at  Newcastle.  Soon  after  the  news  reached  New  York,  that  a  skirmish 
had  taken  place  at  Lexington,  from  which  the  royal  troops  retreated  to 
Boston,  the  people  came  together  by  beat  of  drum,  shut  up  the  custom 
house,  and  secured  arms  and  ammunition,  which  were  brought  from  the 
city  to  Kingsbridge.  A  new  committee  of  one  hundred  members  met 
on  the  1st  of  May,  and  they  resolved  in  the  most  explicit  manner,  to 
stand  or  fall  with  the  liberty  of  the  continent.45  Under  the  leadership 
of  Ethan  Allen46  and  Seth  Warner,  a  secret  expedition  of  Vermont 
Volunteers — called  Green  Mountain  Boys — marched  towards  the 
frontiers  of  Canada  to  surprise  the  strong  forts  of  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point,  These  contained  a  great  quantity  of  arms  and  military 


the  year  1775,  Vol.  xviii.,  chap,  viii., 
pp.  *130,  131. 

44  He  had  settled  in  New  Hamp¬ 
shire.  His  son  John  was  born  in 
1741,  at  Berwick,  in  the  district  of 
Maine.  Another  distinguished  brother 
named  James  was  born  in  1744.  He 
was  successively  judge,  attorney- gene¬ 
ral,  and  governor  of  Massachusettes ; 
he  was  addicted  to  legal  and  historical 
studies,  and  wrote  various  works.  He 
became  first  president  of  the  Massa¬ 
chusetts  Historfical  Society.  See 


Thomas  C.  Amory’s  “  Military  Ser¬ 
vices  and  Public  Life  of  Major-Gene¬ 
ral  John  Sullivan,”  Boston,  1868, 
8vo.  Also  Miohaud’s  “  Biographie 
Universelle  Ancienne  et  Moderne.” 
Tome  xl.,  p.  428. 

45  See  George  Bancroft's  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  vii.,  chap, 
xxxi.,  p.  329. 

46  The  life  and  career  of  the  brave 
Ethan  Allen  may  be  found  in  Jared 
Sparks’  “  Library  of  American  Bio¬ 
graphy.”  Published  in  1836. 


164 


IRISH -AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


stores.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  May.  Allen  stole  silently 
upon  Ticonderoga,  with  about  eighty  men.  He  suddenly  rushed  upon 
the  fort,  surprising  the  garrison,  and  even  he  roused  the  British  com¬ 
mandant  from  his  bed  with  a  summons  to  surrender.  Thus,  with  great 
ease,  Ethan  Allen  captured  the  fort  of  Ticonderoga,  and  lie  found  in  it 
a  quantity  of  valuable  munitions.  Among  his  confederates  was  Henry 
Knox,47  who  undertook  to  bring  to  Cambridge  over  one  hundred  cannon 
which  were  there,  besides  a  number  of  swivels,  small  arms  and  stores. 
This  great  exploit  furnished  the  first  Artillery  for  the  United  States. 
After  incredible  exertions  against  the  difficulties  of  transit  in  those  days, 
Henry  Knox  conveyed  all  the  military  stores  safely  to  their  destination. 
To  a  detachment,  commanded  by  Seth  Warner,  Crown  Point  was  also 
surrendered.  Another  party  succeeded  in  getting  possession  of  Skeeims- 
borough,  and  in  capturing  Skeene,  a  dangerous  British  Agent.4** 
Another  of  Allen’s  brave  associates  was  Benedict  Arnold,  who  as 
captain  in  the  forces  then  encamped  near  Boston  served  him  as  a 
volunteer,  and  also  John  Brown,  who  had  planned  the  expedition. 
Afterwards,  Benedict  Arnold  conducted  a  party  to  St.  John’s,  on  the 
Sorel  River,  where  he  succeeded  in  capturing  some  stores. 

Meanwhile,  great  commotions  prevailed  in  Virginia,  where  the 
Assembly  had  been  dissolved  by  the  Governor,  the  Earl  of  Dunmore. 
Whereupon  a  Provincial  Congress  had  been  assembled  there  in  March, 
and  it  took  measures  for  embodying  the  militia.  In  South  Carolina, 
Lord  William  Campbell  the  Governor,  as  a  consequence  of  popular  dis¬ 
turbances,  was  obliged  to  retire  from  Charlestown,  and  to  take  refuge 
on  board  a  British  ship  of  war  in  the  harbour.  So  early  as  May  31st, 
the  people  of  Mecklenburg  county  in  North  Carolina  adopted  in  con¬ 
vention  a  formal  Declaration  of  Independence  ;  but  at  the  time,  this 
movement  was  deemed  to  be  premature.  They  pursued  methods,  how¬ 
ever,  to  raise  arms  and  support  forces,  as  also  to  train  the  militia.49 

A  deed  of  daring — which  well  deserves  to  be  recorded — was  per¬ 
formed  by  Jeremiah  O’Brien,50  who  fought  the  first  battle  for  American 
independence  on  the  seas,  after  the  war  of  the  Revolution  had  actually 
commenced.  This  affair  occurred  in  Machias  Bay,  Maine,  on  June 
12th.  Leading  his  band  of  brave  brothers  and  some  of  his  neighbours 
j  on  board  a  sloop,  having  only  one  cannon  mounted  on  it,  he  attacked 
the  Margaretta,  a  British  armed  schooner  of  20  guns,  while  he  boarded 


47  He  was  born  of  Irish  parents  in 
Boston,  a.d.  1760,  and  while  a  mere 
youth,  he  espoused  the  cause  of  the 
colonies  with  great  ardour.  After¬ 
wards,  he  fought  as  a  volunteer  at  the 
Battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  See  “  Irish 
Celts,”  by  a  Member  of  the  Michigan 
Bar. 

48  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
<of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  vii.,  chap, 
xxxii. 

49  See  the  “  Annual  Register  ”  for 


the  year  1776,  Vol.  xix.,  History  of 
Europe,  chap.  ,ii.,  pp.  17  to  33. 

He  and  his  five  brothers  were  the 
sons  of  Maurice,  a  native  of  Cork,  in 
Ireland,  and  who  had  emigrated  in 
the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  cen¬ 
tury.  Their  father  had  served  as  a 
Volunteer,  in  the  expedition  against 
Louisburg.  Afterwards,  in  1765,  he 
removed  to  Machias,  in  Maine,  and 
there  with  his  six  sons  he  engaged 
in  the  lumber  business. 


GEORGE  WASHINGTON  APPOINTED  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. 


165 


the  ship  and  captured  the  crew.51  This  naval  engagement  has  been 
characterised  as  the  Lexington  of  the  Seas ;  for,  like  that  celebrated 
conflict,  it  was  the  rising  of  the  people  against  a  regular  force.52  The 
armament  of  the  Margaretta  was  then  transferred  to  the  sloop,  which 
was  christened  the  Machias  Liberty.  The  O’Briens  took  command  of 
her,  and  captured  the  Diligence,  a  British  coast-survey  vessel,  with  her 
tender.  Afterwards,  the  provincial  government  commissioned  Jeremiah 
as  Captain  of  the  Liberty,  with  his  brother  William  as  Lieutenant, 
and  also  the  Diligence,  on  which  his  brother  J ohn  served  as  Lieutenant, 
to  intercept  supplies  on  sea  intended  for  the  British  troops.  Jeremiah 
O’Brien  accordingly  cruised  on  the  coasts  for  a  year  and  a  half  taking 
many  valuable  prizes.53  The  besiegers  before  Boston  were  cheered, 
too,  by  the  succesdve  intelligence,  which  they  received  with  shouts  of 
rapture,  that  insurgent  patriots  had  expelled  English  Governors,  and 
that  the  Forts  on  Lake  Champlain  had  been  captured  by  the  militia  of 
Vermont. 

Early  in  the  month  of  June,  measures  were  taken  by  Congress 
for  organizing  and  paying  a  continental  army.  Its  members  happily 
chose  for  his  excellent  qualifications  General  George  Washington54 
of  Virginia,  as  their  Commander-in-Chief.55  He  was  then  forty-three 
j^ears  of  age.  Although  he  well  knew  the  difficulties  and  responsibili- 


51  Twenty  of  the  crew  were  killed 
and  wounded,  in  this  hand  to  hand 
encounter,  and  among  the  latter.  Cap¬ 
tain  Moore  Ml  mortally  stricken. 
The  colonists  lost  four  killed  and  nine 
wounded.  Previous  to  the  engage¬ 
ment,  the  Captain  had  threatened  to 
fire  on  Machias  town,  unless  the  in¬ 
habitants  removed  a  liberty-pole  they 
had  erected,  when  news  reached  them 
regarding  the  affair  at  Lexington. 

52  See  the  account  in  James  Feni- 
more  Cooper’s  “History  of  the  Navy 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  i.  The 
first  edition  of  this  valuable  work 
appeared  at  Philadelphia  in  1839, 
and  the  second  in  1840.  A  third 
appeared  at  Cooperstown,  N.  Y.,  in 
1846.  The  work  was  also  reprinted 
in  London,  Paris  and  Brussels.  After 
the  author’s  death  in  1851,  a  new 

-  edition  with  a  continuation  from  1851 
to  1853  was  published  during  the 
latter  year,  in  a  supplement  of  100 
pages  from  Mr.  Cooper’s  MSS.,  and 
from  other  authorities. 

53  His  brother  John  had  built  a  pri¬ 
vateer,  called  the  Hannibal,  at  New- 
buryport,  and  of  this  Jeremiah  next 
assumed  command.  Shortly  after¬ 
wards,  however,  while  cruizing  off 
New  York,  his  vessel  was  chased  by 


two  English  frigates,  and  it  was  cap¬ 
tured.  For  six  months,  Jeremiah  was 
confined  in  the  Jersey  guard-ship.  He 
was  then  sent  to  England,  and  con¬ 
fined  in  Mill  Prison,  from  which  he 
succeeded  in  escaping.  He  died  in 
Machlias,  Me.,  October  5th,  1818. 
His  daughter  was  the  mother  of  John 
P.  Hale,  anti-slavery  U.  S.  Senator 
for  N.  H.  The  brother  of  Jeremiah 
O’Brien  named  John,  was  appointed 
captain  of  a  privateer,  and  with  this 
he  captured  the  General  Pattison,  an 
English  armed  vessel,  having  on  board 
a  number  of  British  officers  who  were 
returning  from  New  York  to  Eng¬ 
land.  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  iv.,  p.  550. 

54  See  Rev.  Dr.  Aaron  Bancroft’s 
“  Life  of  George  Washington,  Com¬ 
mander-in-Chief  of  the  American 
Army,”  published  at  London,  1808, 
8  vo. 

55  A  valuable  historic  work,  illus¬ 
trating  the  events  of  this  important 
period,  is  Jared  Sparks’  “  Correspond¬ 
ence  of  the  Revolution.”  Being  let¬ 
ters  from  Eminent  Men  to  George 
Washington  from  the  Time  of  his  tak¬ 
ing  Command  of  the  American  Army 
to  the  end  of  his  life.  4  vols.  Boston, 
8vo. 


166  IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

ties  of  that  position,  yet  he  did  not  hesitate  for  an  instant  in  accepting 
them.  He  refused  all  pay  beyond  his  personal  expenses.56  Charles 
Thompson  had  the  signal  honour  to  draft  the  commission  of  appoint¬ 
ment  from  Congress.  This  authorized  Washington,  on  the  16th  of 
J  une,  to  assume  command  over  all  the  forces  raised  or  to  be  raised  by 
the  United  Colonies.  The  wisdom  of  this  choice  soon  became  appa¬ 
rent,  since  to  his  other  fine  moral  and  intellectual  qualifications, 
Washington  united  those  of  courage  and  penetration,  with  an  indefa¬ 
tigable  love  of  labour  and  a  rare  fortitude,  which  sustained  him  under 
all  difficulties.57 

The  Americans  surrounding  Boston  on  the  land  side  were  thus 
disposed.  The  right  wing  under  General  Thomas  was  at  Roxbury,  and 
it  consisted  of  four  thousand  Massachusetts  troops,  including  four  ar¬ 
tillery  companies,  with  field  pieces  and  a  heavy  cannon.  General 
Greene  had  command  of  the  Rhode  Island  forces,  near  Jamaica  Plains. 
Patterson’s  regiment  was  stationed  at  a  breastwork  on  Prospect  Hill, 
near  Charlestown  suburb,  and  a  guard  was  at  Lechmere’s  Point ; 
Stark’s  regiment  was  at  Medford,  and  Reid’s  at  Charlestown  Neck, 
with  sentinels  reaching  to  Penny  Ferry  and  Bunker  Hill.  It  soon  be¬ 
came  known  to  the  Americans,  that  General  Gage  with  the  three 
major-generals  had  formed  a  plan  for  extending  the  British  lines  to 
Charlestown.  The  enemy  had  fixed  on  the  night  of  the  18th  of  June, 
to  take  possession  of  and  to  fortify  Bunker  Hill,  as  also  Dorchester 
Heights.  The  patriots  were  determined  to  prevent  such  an  attempt, 
and  with  that  object  in  view,  they  resolved  to  take  possession  of  those 
vantage  grounds.  A  guard  was  placed  in  Charlestown,  and  the  main 
body  pursued  their  way  to  Bunker  Hill.  Here  a  council  was  held,  in 
order  to  select  the  best  place  for  a  fortification. 

The  .English  generals  had  resolved  to  cross  over  and  seize  Charles¬ 
town,  as  also  to  fortify  their  forces  on  that  peninsula,  where  two  emin¬ 
ences  commanded  the  town  of  Boston.  The  one  nearer  to  Charlestown 
was  known  as  Breed’s  Hill,  but  the  other  more  elevated  was  called 
Bunker  Hill.  It  was  now  determined  to  anticipate  such  a  movement, 
and  accordingly,  American  orders  were  issued,  that  the  latter  post 
should  be  fortified  during  the  night  of  the  16th  of  June.  When  dark¬ 
ness  had  set  in,  a  large  party  of  active  men,  furnished  with  necessary 
implements,  advanced  even  to  Breed’s  Hill,  on  which  they  constructed 
a  strong  redoubt.  The  proposed  lines  of  fortification  having  been 
marked  out  by  Colonel  Grid  ley,  the  men  stacked  arms  and  began  to 
work.  It  was  the  hour  of  midnight,  and  as  they  threw  off  their  jackets 
And  grasped  the  pick,  the  tread  of  English  sentinels  could  be  heard,  and 


‘•See  Bancroft’s  “History  of  the 
United  States,”  Vol.  vii.,  chap, 
xxxvii. 

*7  See  “  Epistles,  Domestic,  Confi¬ 
dential,  and  Official,  from  General 
Washington,  written  about  the  com¬ 


mencement  of  the  American  Contest, 
when  he  entered  on  the  Command  of 
the  Army  of  the  United  States, "  This 
work  was  printed  at  New  York,  in 
1796,  and  it  was  reprinted,  in  Lon¬ 
don. 


BATTLE  AT  BUNKER’S  FtlLL.  167 

the  cry  of  marines  on  board  armed  vessels,  while  proclaiming  their  safety 
signal.  The  words,  “All’s well,”  were  plainly  wafted  by  night  to  the 
colonial  ears.  The  workmen  were  thus  in  dangerous  proximity  to  their 
enemy.  If  by  any  accident  discovered,  defeat  and  disaster  were  sure 
to  follow.  .  The  American  pickets  were  on  the  alert  however,  and  they 
eagerly  watched  the  foe,  while  their  men  plied  pickaxe  and  spade. 
They  worked  as  if  their  lives  depended  on  the  efforts  of  that  night. 
But,  within  a  few  hours  they  had  thrown  up  a  rampart.  This  was  not 
wholly  completed,  before  an  alarm  came  from  the  war-ships  in  Boston 
Harbour.  A  discharge  from  the  guns  aroused  the  townsmen  from  their 
slumbers,  and  soon  the  whole  population  with  the  garrison  became 
aware  of  their  situation.  Notwithstanding  that  cannonade,  the  works 
were  continued  until  noon ;  yet,  they  could  only  be  hastily  •  and 
imperfectly  constructed,  especially  on  the  American  left  wing,  where  a 
rail  fence,  interwoven  with  newly  mown  hay,  formed  but  a  slight 
obstacle  against  an  opposing  force. 

This  menacing  attitude  and  position  of  the  provincials  could  not  be 
permitted  however  by  the  English  army,  unless  they  were  prepared  to 
surrender  Boston.  Accordingly,  the  troops  were  at  once  assembled. 
In  preparation  for  a  bloody  battle,  strenuous  efforts  were  made 
on  either  side  to  win  success,  on  the  17th  June.58  Not  exceeding  in 
number  1,500  men,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Prescott,  aided 
by  Dr.  Joseph  Warren 59  and  Israel  Putnam,  the  Americans 
lined  their  entrenchments.  The  people  of  Boston  rushed  to 
every  height  within  the  city,  and  gazed  with  astonishment  upon 
the  apparition  presented  to  them  on  Breed’s  Hill.  The  British  fleet 
was  making  ready,  likewise,  to  take  part  in  that  battle.  The  ships 
were  swarming  with  men,  and  their  guns  were  pointed  towards  the  forti¬ 
fied  hill.60  General  Gage  had  given  orders  to  his  troops,  that  they  should 
pass  over  to  Charlestown  in- boats,  the  ships  of  war  in  the  harbour  keep¬ 
ing  up  a  cannonade,  meanwhile,  on  the  American  redoubts.  Major- 
General  Sir  William  Howe,  assisted  by  Brigadier-General  Pigot,  was  in 
command  of  about  two  thousand  men  and  a  proportion  of  field  artillery. 
This  force  consisted  of  detachments  from  the  fifth,  the  thirty-eighth,  the 


See  Lossing’s  “  Pictorial  Field 
Book  of  the  Revolution, ’’  Vol.  i., 
chap.  xxii. 

He  was  a  relative  of  Sir  Peter 
Warren,  who  was  born  at  Warren- 
town,  Ireland,  in  1703.  At  an  early 
age  he  entered  the  navy,  and  he  be¬ 
came  a  Commodore  in  the  British 
Naval  Service.  He  was  afterwards  a 
member  of  Parliament  for  Westmin¬ 
ster.  He  died  in  1752.  His  rela¬ 
tive,  Dr.  Warren,  served  as  a  volun¬ 
teer  under  Colonel  Prescott^  at  Bun¬ 
ker  Hill,  although  holding  a  commis¬ 
sion  as  Major-General.  See  “  Irish 


Celts,”  by  a  Member  of  the  Michigan 
Bar. 

60  The  Somerset,  of  68  guns  and 
520  men,  lay  at  the  ferry,  and  was 
engaged  during  that  day.  The  Cer¬ 
berus,  36  guns,  and  several  floating 
batteries,  were  within  gunshot  of  the 
works ;  the  Glasgow,  24  guns,  and 
130  men,  was  near  Craigie’s  Bridge ; 
the  Lively,  20  guns,  and  130  mear 
lay  opposite  the  present  Navy  Yard; 
while  the  Falcon  and.  the  Symmetry, 
transports,  18  nine-pounders,  lay  off, 
Maulton’s  poinf. 


168 


1RISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


forty-third  and  the  fifty-second  infantry  regiments,  with  ten  companies 
of  grenadiers  and  ten  of  light  infantry.  But,  Howe  still  demanded  rein- 
(orcements  ;61  and  accordingly,  the  forty-seventh  regiment  and  a  bat¬ 
talion  of  marines,  with  several  companies  more  of  light  infantry  and  of 
grenadiers,  were  despatched  to  him.  This  contingent  raised  his  force 
to  over  three  thousand  well-disciplined  and  veteran  troops. 

Order  was  next  given  to  advance  and  storm  the  rebel  breast-works, 
ifter  half-past  two  o’clock.  The  British  army  moved  onwards  in  two 
columns.  With  steady  step,  and  haughty,  determined  bearing,  the 
grenadiers  advanced.62  Up  the  slopes  of  the  hill  their  dense  and  serried 
columns  came.  Howe  ordered  one  wing  to  burst  upon  Colonel  John 
Stark,  who  commanded  at  the  rail-fence,  and  whose  two  New  Hamp¬ 
shire  regiments  reached  the  ground  just  before  the  battle  commenced.63 


61  See  Charles  Mackay's  “  History  of 
the  United  States,”  Vol.  i.,  Book  ii., 
chap,  vi.,  p.  255. 

A  vivid  and  an  accurate  descrip¬ 
tion  of  this  battle  is  given  by  the 
American  writer,  James  Fenimore 
Cooper,  in  his  very  interesting  his¬ 
toric  novel,  “Lionel  Lincoln.” 

63  There  were  many  composed  of 
Irishmen  born  or  lrish-Americans 
Many  had  served  previously  in  the 
French  and  Indian  wars.  In  the 
School  Histories  of  the  United  States, 
Patrick  Henry  is  the  only  prominent 
one  mentioned  as  bearing  the  Chris¬ 
tian  name  so  peculiar  to  Ireland,  and 
as  taking  an  active  part  in  the  Revolu¬ 
tion.  However,  from  various  records 
and  other  sources,  Thomas  Hamilton 
Murray,  editor  of  the  Pawtucket  Tri¬ 
bune,  R.I.,  and  General  Secretary  of 
the  Irish-American  Historical  Society, 
has  collected  a  list  of  nearly  250 
Patricks  who  served  in  the  Conti¬ 
nental  Army,  in  different  capacities, 
but  for  the  most  part  as  officers  or 
private  soldiers.  We  here  present 
the  alphabetical  order  of  their  family 
names,  which  immediately  point  to 
an  Irish  origin.  Allison,  Allen, 
Anally,  Aserman,  Baity,  Bennett, 
Black,  Bolden,  Boyle,  Bradshaw, 
Brady,  Brezland,  Brown,  Buchanan, 
Burns,  Burnett,  Burt,  Butler,  Bryan, 
Calhoun,  Callaghan,  Campbell,  Capron, 
Carr,  Carroll,  Caton,  Cavenagh, 
Clark,  Cogan,  Colbert,  Coleman, 
Collins,  Conely,  Connell,  Connelly, 
Connor,  Conner,  Conway,  Corbitt, 
Corcoran,  Coursey,  Crawford,  Cronan, 
Cronin,  Cronkite,  Cross,  Cunningham, 
Curren,  Darkin,  Daily,  Davis,  Deady, 


Deamell,  D°mpsey,  Dennis,  Dirking, 
Diver,  Dix«n,  Donnelly,  Donohoe, 
Dorothy,  Downey,  Doyle,  Duffy, 
Dungan,  Dunlevy,  Durgin,  Dunphv, 
Duyer,  Fagge,  Farroll,  Fennell, 
Finnagin,  Fitzpatrick,  Flemming, 
Flynn,  Fotterel,  Fox,  Foy,  Fullerton, 
Gallagher,  Gault,  Glenn,  Gibbons, 
Grafit,  Graham,  Gree!n,  Griffin, 
Hackett,  Hacknvt,  Hagerty,  Hamil¬ 
ton,  Hand,  Hanlin,  Hannington, 
Harrington,  Harrison,  Hart,  Hartney, 
Henderson,  Hennig,  Heron,  Hogan, 
Hughes,  Hynes,  Johnson,  Joyce, 
Kane,  Kelly,  Kennedy,  Kenny, 
Killey,  Kineltv,  King,  Kirby,  Kirken, 
Lafertv,  Lamb,  Leader,  Leland,  Le¬ 
mon,  Leonard,  Lilless,  Limerick, 
Lockev,  Lynch,  Lyons,  Lynn,  Mabie, 
Magan,  Mahoney,  Malone,  Maroney, 
Marr,  Martin,  Mullen,  Mulvany, 
Murdaugli,  Murphy,  Monow,  Mooney, 
Moore,  Murray,  McAnally,  McAnary, 
McAnarmey,  McCaffrey,  McCann, 
McCasline,  McCline,  McConnally, 
McCord,  McCormick,  McCue,  McCul- 
len,  McDermott,  McDonald,  McFall, 
McGalls,  McGee,  McGlachlin,  Mc- 
Gonaghy,  McGonigle,  McGraff,  Mc- 
Graw,  McGuan,  McGuire,  McHolland, 
Mclnnis,  Mclvory,  McKeen,  McKee- 
han,  McKinney,  McKown,  McLane, 
McLaughlin,  McManus,  McMitchell, 
MeMurphy,  McNamara,  McNulty, 
Neall,  Nevin,  Newgent,  Newlin, 
Norton,  Nugent,  O’Brian,  O’Brien, 
O'Bryan,  O’Donaghv,  O’Fling,  O’Foy, 
O'Hara,  O’Lean,  Phelan,  Preston, 
Quinn,  Raden,  Reid,  Reilly, 
Richards,  Riley,  Roach,  Roberts, 
Rock,  Roddy,  Rodgers,  Rogers, 
Rooney,  Rourk,  Roy,  Ryan,  Scandalin, 


BATTLE  AT  BUNKER’S  HILL.  1  GO 

General  Pigot  set  over  the  other  wing  was  directed  to  storm  the 
redoubt.  At  a  signal  given,  the  British  battery  upon  Copp’s  Hill — • 
from  which  Generals  Burgoyneand  Clinton  watched  every  movement— 
and  the  guns  belonging  to  the  men-of-war  in  the  harbour  opened  fire. 
These  poured  a  fearful  storm  of  round-shot  upon  the  redoubt.  At  the 
same  time,  a  furious  cannonade  was  opened  on  the  rebel  lines  at 
Roxbury,  to  prevent  reinforcements  from  crossing  the  Neck,  leading  to 
the  American  lines.  Gridle}^  and  Callender  endeavoured  to  return  the 
fire  from  a  few  field-pieces,  but  it  was  too  feeble  to  be  effective.  The 
latter  left  his  post  and  went  to  Bunker  Hill,  in  the  rear  of 
Breed’s  Hill.  However,  Putnam  ordered  him  back.  This  order 
he  disobeyed,  when  his  men  left,  refusing  to  fight  longer  under  him. 
At  this  juncture,  Captain  Walker  with  fifty  volunteers  had  marched 
towards  Charlestown.  The  Americans  received  orders  from  Prescott 
to  reserve  their  fire,  until  the  British  had  advanced  quite  near  their 
earth-works.  With  steady  and  slow  movement.,  but  firing  as  they  ad¬ 
vanced,  the  soldiers  at  length  reached  the  prescribed  distance,  while  they 
halted  occasionally  on  the  march,  to  permit  their  artillery  to  play  on 
the  redoubts.  Just  as  they  were  beginning  to  think  that  these  should 
fall  an  easy  prey,  and  when  within  eight  or  ten  rods  of  them,  waving 
his  sword  above  his  head,  and  jumping  upon  the  platform, 
Prescott  shouted  the  word  “  Fire !  ”  At  that  instant,  the  flame 
flashed  from  rifles  and  muskets  along  the  breast-works,  when  a  rattling 
volley  swept  through  the  foremost  British  ranks.  Instantly,  the 
Americans  reloaded,  and  another  volley  followed  in  quick  succession. 
As  the  smoke  cleared  away,  broken  and  repulsed  the  soldiers  were 
seen  fleeing  down  the  hill.  Behind  them  lay  their  dead  and  wounded 
in  whole  platoons.  The  defenders  at  the  slight  rail  fence,  commanded 
by  Stark  and  Ivnowlton,  received  General  Howe’s  column  in  like 
manner  with  a  reserved  and  murderous  fire,  which  drove  it  back  in 
confusion.  The  rebels  were  eager  to  follow  the  fugitives,  but  their 
officers  restrained  them,  deeming  it  more  prudent  to  alluw  the  enemy 
to  be  the  attacking  party.  Reinforcements  for  the  rebels  were  unable, 
nevertheless,  to  cross  on  account  of  the  constant  fire  from  those  war¬ 
ships  in  the  harbour.  With  some  difficulty,  the  British  Generals  Howe 
and  Pigot  rallied  their  men,  for  a  renewal  of  the  onset ;  but,  an  in 
terval  of  about  fifteen  minutes  elapsed,  before  their  ranks  were  fully 
formed.64 

With  evident  reluctance,  the  soldiers  advanced  firing  as  before. 
However,  Prescott,  who  had  cheered  his  men  behind  the  breast-works, 
again  directed  them  to  reserve  their  fire,  until  the  enemy  had  come 
within  five  or  six  rods  of  their  lines.  While  the  British  officers  were 


Scullion,  Shannon,  Shea,  Shehen, 
Shockey,  Shockney,  Shoughness,  Sil¬ 
vers,  Simms,  Smith,  Snow,  Sullivan, 
Tague,  Thomas,  Thornton,  Tobyne, 
Tool,  Tracey,  Tracy,  Wrenn,  Walden. 
Walker,  Ward,  Weldon,  Welsh,  Wright. 


84  The  “  History  of  the  Siege  of 
Boston,”  by  Richard  Frothinghaia, 
jun.,  a  work  abounding  with  facts  as 
to  persons  and  events,  gives  an  inter¬ 
esting  account  of  the  battle  of  Busk¬ 
er 's  Hill. 


170  IRISH-AMER1CAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

seen  exposing  themselves  fearlessly,  remonstrating,  threatening  and  even 
striking  their  soldiers  to  urge  them  onwards,  the  Americans  were  pre¬ 
pared  to  receive  them,  with  even  a  more  deadly  fire  than  before. 
Nevertheless,  the  British  speedily  advanced  to  make  their  second 
attack.  Their  artillery  thundered  from  the  shipping,  their  whole  fire 
being  now  concentrated,  but  chiefly  on  the  redoubt.  Moreover,  some 
of  the  guns  had  been  moved  from  Copp’s  Hill  to  within  a  hundred 
yards  of  the  rail-fence.  Those  were  now  pouring  a  destructive  fire 
upon  Stark  and  his  devoted  men.  Rushing  forward  to  the  assault  a 
second  time,  the  British  were  again  received  with  a  continuous  stream 
of  fire,  which  they  could  not  stand.  Dead  and  wounded  covered 
the  ground  in  front  of  the  breastworks,  both  at  the  chief  redoubt  and 
at  the  rail-fence.  Some  of  the  companies  lost  three-fourths  and  several 
nine-tenths  of  their  men.  So  many  of  his  officers  had  been  killed  or 
wounded,  that  for  some  seconds,  Howe  was  almost  left  alone  with  his 
subalterns  endeavouring  to  repair  the  rout.65 

Meanwhile,  General  Clinton  watched  the  battle  from  Copp’s  Hill, 
and  seeing  the  regiments  retreat  in  confusion  to  the  beach,  he  crossed 
over  to  rally  them  for  a  renewal  of  the  battle.  He  succeeded  by  getting 
them  into  line  for  a  third  advance,  while  four  hundred  marines  were 
landed  from  the  ships  to  assist  them.  Moreover,  General  Gage  had 
caused  the  wooden  houses  in  Charlestown  to  be  set  on  fire,  to  cover  their 
approach  ;  but,  this  barbarous  act  had  no  appreciable  effect  on  the 
result.  Greatly  discouraged  and  after  a  long  delay,  the  British 
once  more  advanced,  and  the  Americans  at  short  range  again  re¬ 
solved  to  deliver  their  fire  with  deadly  effect.  Not  a  sound  was 
now  heard  in  the  redoubt  save  the  crashing  of  the  balls,  which 
fell  among  and  around  the  occupants.  The  British  guns  were 
brought  to  bear  in  such  a  manner,  as  to  rake  the  insides  of  their 
breast-works  from  one  end  to  the  other.  The  defenders  were  then 
obliged  to  crowd  within  their  fort  for  greater  protection.  Still  calm 
and  collected,  the  rebels  waited  for  the  signal  to  fire  their  retreating* 
volleys.  They  had  rammed  home  the  last  cartridge,  and  they  were 
determined  to  make  their  last  discharge  tell  on  the  solid  ranks  of  the 
English.  Having  disencumbered  themselves  from  their  knapsacks,  the 
soldiers  then  advanced  with  fixed  bayonets  and  in  column.  A  few 
feet  of  earth  separated  the  combatants,  when  the  American  order  to 
fire  was  again  given.  At  this  critical  moment,  when  disorder  began  to 
manifest  itself,  even  for  a  third  time  in  the  ranks  of  their  enemies, 
ammunition  failed  the  Americans.  The  British  grenadiers  then  dis¬ 
covered  their  opportunitj’,  and  throwing  off  their  knapsacks,  and  some 
even  their  coats,  to  be  more  light  for  action,  they  rushed  forward  with 
the  bayonet.66  Hitherto,  the  Americans  had  lost  very  few  of  their 
men. 

65  See  George  Bancroft’s  “History  66  See  Washington  Irving’s  “Life 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  vii.,  chap.  of  George  Washington,”  Yol.  i.,  chap, 
xxxix.,  pp.  416  to  426.  xli. 


BATTLE  AT  BUNKERS  HILL.  171 

With  clubbed  muskets  the  brave  defenders  endeavoured,  but  in 
vain,  to  hold  the  breastworks  against  a  greatly  superior  and  regular 
force.  It  being  impossible  to  maintain  their  position  any  longer,  and 
a  heavy  artillery  fire  being  directed  against  their  rear,  Colonel  Prescott 
gave  orders  to  retreat  over  Charlestown  Neck.  The  British  were  still 
assailed  with  a  shower  of  stones,  hurled  by  those  brave  men,  who  before 
their  enforced  retreat  continued  to  dispute  every  inch  of  ground.  Just 
at  this  moment,  Major  Pitcairn,  the  butcher  of  Lexington,  jumped 
upon  the  parapet.  While  in  the  act  of  shouting  to  encourage  his  men, 
he  was  tumbled  headlong  below,  and  mortally  wounded.  On  three 
sides  did  the  British  attack  the  retreating  Americans  with  the  bayonet. 
Hand  to  hand,  these  courageously  struggled.  At  last,  Prescott  ordered 
them  to  fall  back  on  the  camp  at  Cambridge,  when  sullenly  and  stub¬ 
bornly  they  moved  backwards.  In  this  exposed  and  defenceless  posi¬ 
tion,  their  loss  was  chiefly  experienced.67  The  last  man  to  step  from 
the  works  was  Dr.  Warren,  and  he  was  but  a  short  distance  from  the 
redoubt.  At  that  moment,  he  was  shot  dead  and  through  the  heart. 
Colonel  Stark  and  his  command  the  New  Hampshire  men  had  bravely 
contested  the  ground',  at  its  least  defensible  part,  where  a  slight  con¬ 
struction  of  fence  rails  and  hay  was  the  only  protection.68  With  Bead 
and  Knowlton  to  second  him,  Stark  still  maintained  his  position  at  the 
rail-fence,  despite  all  the  efforts  of  the  British  to  dislodge  him.  He 
fought  gallantly,  animating  his  men  and  cheering  them  on,  until  rein¬ 
forcements  arrived ;  and  then,  he  drove  back  charge  upon  charge, 
repulsing  every  attack.  This  resolute  resistance  was  the  chief  means 
afforded,  for  saving  the  main  body  from  being  cut  to  pieces.  His 
services  were  most  valuable  in  such  an  extremity,  while  these  were 
frankly  and  gratefully  acknowledged  by  the  general  in  command. 
Thus,  for  want  of  ammunition,  the  Americans  were  forced  to  retreat, 
but  they  had  left  on  the  hill  as  many  dead  and  wounded  of  the  enemy 
as  they  themselves  numbered  in  the  beginning  of  the  battle.  The 
British  loss  was  enormous  for  the  number  engaged,  no  less  than  1,054 
lying  on  the  field  in  killed  and  wounded,  while  the  Colonist  loss  was 
less  than  half  that  number,  in  killed,69  wounded  and  prisoners.  That 
night,  the  Americans  lay  on  their  arms,  under  the  command  of 
Putnam,  and  on  Prospect  Hill.  The  British  occupied  Bunker  Hill,70 
which  gave  name  to  this  remarkable  engagement,  although  in  reality 
it  was  fought  on  Breed’s  Hill. 

The  besieging  army  was  afterwards  placed  under  the  provisional 

m  Major  Moore,  an  Irishman,  was 
killed  within  me  redoubt,  at  this 
time. 

68  Colonel  Thomas  McLaughlin,  an 
Irishman,  was  one  of  Stark’s  riflemen 
at  Bunker  Hill.  He  also  fought  at 
Bennington,  mnd  he  was  in  several 
other  engagements. 

69  Major  And’-e'w  McClary,  a  brave 


Irish  officer,  was  killed  at  Bunker 
Hill,  He  fell  while  crossing  the 
Neck.  He  was  a  man  of  massive 
proportions,  and  a  conspicious  mark 
for  the  enemies’  bullets. 

70  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  vii.,  chap, 
xl.,  pp.  428  to  435. 


172 


IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


command  of  Brigadier-General  John  Sullivan.71  On  the  very  day  of 
the  battle  fought  at  Bunker’s  Hill,  the  American  Congress  had  elected 
four  Major-Generals,  viz.,  Artemus  Ward,72  of  Massachusetts,  Charles 
Lee,73  Philip  Schuyler,74  and  Israel  Putnam,75  of  Connecticut. 
Next  to  these  came  Horatio  Gates  as  Adjutant>General,  with  the  rank 
of  Brigadier.  However,  better  selections  might  have  been  made  of 
persons  in  high  command,  nor  was  any  one  of  the  foregoing  worthy  to 
succeed  the  Commander-in-Chief.  Eight  Brigadier- Generals  were  also 
appointed,  viz.,  Seth  Pomeroy,76  Richard  Montgomery,77  David 
Wooster,78  William  Heath,79  Joseph  Spencer,80  John  Thomas,81 
John  Sullivan,82  and  Nathaniel  Greene.83  All  of  the  foregoing, 
save  Montgomery,  were  from  New  England.84  The  organization 
of  an  army  first  of  all  engaged  Washington’s  attention.85  He  set 
out  by  way  of  New  York,  so  soon  as  he  could  make  the  necessary 
arrangements,  and  he  reached  the  camp  at  Cambridge,  near  Boston,  on 
the  2nd  of  July.  The  armed  patriots  were  filled  with  hope  and  joy 
as  they  saw,  with  unspeakable  pleasure,  General  Washington  ride  from 
his  quarters  at  Cambridge.  Under  an  elm  tree  on  the  common, 
July  3rd,  he  assumed  command  of  their  army.86  No  man  had  a  finer 


71  He  was  born  of  Irish  parents  in 
1740,  at  Somersworth,  New  Hamp¬ 
shire,  and  at  first  he  practised  law. 
He  was  elected  a  delegate  to  repre¬ 
sent  that  Province  in  the  first  Con¬ 
tinental  Congress,  at  Philadelphia, 
A.D.  1774,  and  he  was  also  returned 
to  the  second  Congress,  held  in  May, 
1775.  See  “  The  Encyclopaedia  Ameri¬ 
cana,”  Yol.  iv.,  p.  621. 

72  At  this  time  he  was  in  ill  health, 
but  devoted  to  his  country’s  service. 

73‘  He  was  the  son  of  an  English 
officer,  but  he  had  little  skill  in  war, 
while  he  was  afterwards  found  to  be 
unfoithful  to  his  high  trust. 

74  He  was  patriotic,  but  an  incom¬ 
petent  general. 

73  His  fame  rested  chiefly  on  his 
undoubted  personal  bravei-y. 

76  A  gunsmith  of  Northampton, 
seventy  years  of  age,  and  the  veteran 
of  two  wars.  However,  before  re¬ 
ceiving  his  commission,  he  retired 
from  the  camp,  distrusting  his  own 
capacity. 

77  An  Irishman  by  birth  and  of  New 
York,  the  seventh  from  Washington 
in  rank,  but  next  to  him  in  merit. 

78  From  Connecticut,  and  then  sixty- 
five  years  old. 

79  A  patriot  farmer  of  Roxbury, 
Massachusetts. 

80  From  Connecticut,  past  sixty 
years  of  age  and  inexperienced  in  war. 


81  He  was  a  physician  of  Kings¬ 
town,  Massachusetts,  and  the  best- 
general  officer  of  that  colony. 

63  He  was  impulsive,  “  not  free  from 
defects  and  foibles ;  tinctured  with 
vanity  and  eager  to  be  popular ; 
enterprising,  spirited  and  able.” 

83  From  Rhode  Island,  and  “  who, 
after  Washington,  had  no  superior 
in  natural  resources,  unless  it  were 
Montgomery.” 

See  George  Bancroft,  who  has 
given  their  respective  estimates  of 
character,  as  abridged  in  our  previous 
notes.  See  “  History  of  the  United 
States,”  Yol.  viii.,  chap,  xli.,  pp. 
26  to  35. 

85  Bom  in  Ireland,  Colonel  John 
FitzGerald  was  the  beloved  and  effi¬ 
cient  aid  of  Washington.  He  was 
present  in  all  those  battles  in  which 
the  Commander-in-Chief  was  engaged. 
As  army -surgeon,  James  McHenry, 
born  in  Ireland,  Nov.  16th  1753,  ac¬ 
companied  Washington  to  Cambridge. 
Afterwards  he  was  made  prisoner  at 
Fort  Washington,  but  exchanged  in 
the  spring  of  1778.  He  was  in  the 
Maryland  Senate  1781 — 1786.  In 
2783  he  was  appointed  to  Congress. 
He  held  office  as  Secretary  of  War 
in  Washington’s  Cabinet.  He  died 
at  Baltimore  in  1816. 

86  See  George  Bancroft’s  ‘‘History 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  AMERICAN  ARMY. 


173 


appearance  or  greater  dignity  of  presence  than  Washington.  He  was 
tall,  graceful,  handsome,  athletic,  and  muscular.  His  calm,  resolute 
and  commanding  aspect  filled  the  hearts  of  the  soldiers  with  confidence. 
After  his  appointment,  he  lost  no  time  in  hastening  to  Boston,  where 
he  found  the  besiegers  in  a  state  of  sad  disorder — destitute  of  gun¬ 
powder,  bayonets,  engineers  and  artillerymen.  He  immediately  devised 
plans  to  supply  these  deficiencies,  and  to  reduce  such  chaos  into  order,87 
while  measures  were  taken  for  the  future  course  of  operations.83 

He  formed  the  army  into  three  divisions,  each  division  consisting  of 
two  brigades,  and  each  brigade  of  six  regiments.  He  regulated  the  pay 
of  the  troops,  and  he  formed  corps  of  -riflemen.89  These  soon  became 
the  terror  of  sailors  and  marines  on  board  the  enemy’s  ships.  In  every 
direction,  to  purchase  or  procure  gunpowder,  emissaries  were  sent. 
While  Boston  was  beleaguered  by  a  great  number  of  irregular  bands, 
frequent  skirmishes  took  place  between  the  Americans  and  the  English 
both  on  sea  and  on  land.  The  results  were  generally  such  as  to  afford 
satisfaction  to  the  besiegers,  and  their  frequent  encounters  habituated 
them  to  the  vicissitudes  of  war.90  Meanwhile,  Washington  was  busily 
engaged  in  the  effort  to  bring  the  raw  levies  into  some  condition  of 
exercise  and  discipline.  He  had  only  three  well-drilled  Rhode  Island 
Regiments,  serving  under  General  Nathaniel  Greene.  The  others  were 
volunteers  on  short  service,  and  many  were  discontented  with  con¬ 
tinuous  absence  from  their  homes.  His  men  were  ill-equipped  and  not 
very  amenable  to  military  subordination.91 


of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  viii., 
chap,  xlii.,  p.  40. 

87  See  Rev.  Dr.  Aaron  Bancroft’s 
‘‘Life  of  Gsorge  Washington,  with  Ac¬ 
count  of  the  Settlements  and  General 
History  of  the  North  American  Colo¬ 
nies.” 

88  See  Guizot’s  “  Vie,  Correspond¬ 
ence,  efc  Ecrits  de  Washington.” 
Tome  i.,  chap.  vi.  This  valuable 
work  appeared  at  Paris  in  1840,  but, 
it  had  been  previously  published  in 
the  United  States. 

89  An  interesting  momento  of  the 
great  patriot,  “Washington’s  Public 
Accounts  during  the  War,  with  other 
Documents  and  Facsimiles,  with  Por¬ 
trait,”  was  published  at  Washington, 
1838,  folio. 

90  Vast  desertions  of  the  British 
soldiere  took  place  in  Boston,  to¬ 
wards  the  close  of  this  year,  wrhile 
three  officers  of  Lord  Perry’s  regi¬ 
ment  were  among  the  mutinous. 

91  See  Cyrus  Edmund’s  “  Life  and 
Times  of  General  Washington,”  Vol. 
i.,  12mo.  Immediately  after  the 
battle  of  Bunker  Hill  every  able- 


bodied  man  among  those  emigrants 
from  the  north  of  Ireland  entered  the 
American  Army,  and  from  their  con¬ 
tinuous  service  and  discipline,  they 
became  the  main  stay  of  the  organi¬ 
zation  until  the  end  of  that  war. 
Those  Irishmen  who  had  settled  in 
Pennsylvania  turned  out  chiefly  under 
the  command  of  Col.  Edward  Hand  and 
Col.  William  Irving.  They  were  both 
Irishmen  and  had  served  as  surgeons 
in  the  British  Service ;  the  first  in 
the  army,  and  the  latter  in  the  navy. 
Hand  was  certainly  of  Catholic  par¬ 
ents  from  the  north  of  Ireland,  and 
his  command,  composed  of  Presby¬ 
terians,  joined  the  army  before  Bos¬ 
ton  shortly  after  Washington  took 
command.  But  the  arrival  of  Hand’s 
troops,  it  is  claimed,  had  been  pre¬ 
ceded  a  few  days  by  a  body  of  Cath¬ 
olic  Irishmen  from  Maryland  and 
lower  Pennsylvania,  under  the  com- 
mand  of  Colonel  Stephen  Moylan,  who 
was  a  personal  friend  of  Washington, 
an  aide  on  his  staff,  and  an  active 
officer  throughout  the  war.  Moylan 
was  a  brother  to  the  Catholic  Bishop 


174 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


During  this  summer,  Lord  Dunmore,  the  royal  governor  of  Virginia, 
was  driven  out  from  Williamsburg,  then  the  capital  of  that  colony. 
He  fled  on  board  a  British  man-of-war.  On  the  10th  of  July,  the  royal 
government  in  Virginia  ceased.  Popular  delegates  then  supplied  the 
place  of  the  Assembly.  Those  soon  raised  and  embodied  an  armed 
force,  and  took  measures  for  putting  the  colony  in  a  state  of  defence. 
The  headstrong  passions  of  Lord  Dunmore  led  him  to  the  commission 
of  further  follies.  He  commenced  a  predatory  war  along  the  coasts,  and 
he  proclaimed  martial  law.  He  afterwards  collected  ships  and  a  force 
of  men  ;  he  made  descents  along  the  coasts  ;  and  in  January  1776,  he 
burned  the  town  of  Norfolk,  the  largest  and  richest  in  Virginia  This 
experience  taught  Congress  the  necessity  for  having  a  marine  equip¬ 
ment  to  defend  a  maritime  country,  and  accordingly,  measures  were 
taken  to  have  that  want  supplied. 

As  the  summer  and  autumn  passed  on,  the  authority  of  the  royal 
governors  was  nearly  everywhere  superseded,  while  Provincial  Assem¬ 
blies  and  Congresses  or  Committees  of  safety  assumed  the  direction  of 
affairs.  North  and  South  Carolina  revolted,  while  Georgia  soon  followed. 
About  this  time  likewise,  Beniamin  Franklin  had  returned  to  America, 
revolving  his  old  scheme  for  a  separate  form  of  home  representation 
and  of  government,  to  regulate  the  internal  affairs  of  each  province 
while  a  federal  union  was  intended  for  all  questions  of  general  policy 
and  procedure.  He  also  designed  including  Canada  and  Ireland  as 
affiliated  provinces,  believing  that  in  both  countries  hostility  to  Eng¬ 
land’s  pretensions  might  be  excited.  However,  this  broad  view  of  their 
eminent  statesman  was  little  understood,  or  deemed  to  be  impractic¬ 
able  by  the  Americans.  Meanwhile,  a  very  excited  state  of  feeling 
had  grown  up  in  Ireland,  as  a  consequence  of  the  Americans  resorting 
to  arms.  Franklin  was  of  opinion,  at  the  time,  that  such  a  ferment  should 
end  in  revolt.  The  Parliament  of  Ireland,  and  especially  the  people  of 
Dublin,  had  began  to  embarrass  government  with  opposition  and  remon¬ 
strance.  The  metropolitan  guild  of  merchants 92  complimented  those 
Peers,  who  voted  in  support  of  the  Constitution,  and  who  protested 
against  the  American  restraining  Bills,  in  opposition  to  a  foolish  and 
wicked  administration.  The  Dissenters  were  active  and  violent;93  but, 
no  part  of  the  Irish  people  sympathised  more  earnestly  with  the  re¬ 
volted  Colonists  than  did  the  disfranchised  Catholics,  who  were  not  then 
a  power  in  the  nation,  although  they  were  a  vast  majority  of  the  in¬ 
habitants.  The  Sheriffs  and  Common  Council  of  Dublin  were  desirous 
of  imitating  the  city  of  London,  by  transmitting  petitions  against  the 
measures  relating  to  America  ;  but  they  were  restrained  by  the  Lord 


of  Cork,  Ireland,  who  was  a  devoted 
friend  to  the  American  cause.  See  Ad¬ 
dress  of  Dr.  Thomas  Addis  Emmet 
before  the  American  Irish  Historical 
Society,  New  York,  Jan.  19,  1899. 

92  In  July  they  applauded  the  Earl 
of  Effingham  for  “  refusing  to  draw 


his  sword  against  the  lives  and  liber¬ 
ties  of  his  fellow-subjects  in  America.” 

93  See  “  The  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1776,  p.  43.  Their  address 
was  presented  under  the  corporation 
seal,  and  it  was  published  with  the 
several  answers  of  each  peer. 


PROGRESS  OP  THE  INSURRECTION. 


175 


Mayor  and  Aldermen.94  Indignant  at  this  impediment,  they  declared 
their  anxiety  to  preserve  their  names  from  the  odium  which  all  posterity 
must  attach  to  those  who  promoted  the  acts  carrying  on  in  America,  as 
also  their  grief  for  the  injured  inhabitants  of  that  continent,  and  for 
their  own  brave  countrymen,  sent  on  the  unnatural  errand  of  slaughter¬ 
ing  their  fellow-subjects.  They  resolved,  moreover,  that  whoever  re¬ 
fused  his  consent  to  a  dutiful  petition  tending  to  undeoeive  the  King, 
and  by  which  the  effusion  of  one  drop  of  subject  blood  might  be  pre¬ 
vented,  was  not  a  friend  of  the  constitution.95 

On  Friday,  July  21st  1775,  an  address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Great 
Britain,  prepared  in  accordance  with  the  resolution  of  Congress,  was 
brought  in,  and  after  some  discussion,  an  order  was  passed  that  it  do  lie 
on  the  table.  Another  address  was  drafted  and  prepared  for  circulation 
among  the  Irish  people.  A  petition  was  also  engrossed  for  presentation 
to  the  King.  While  stating  their  grievances,  and  the  necessity  for  taking 
up  arms,  Congress  proclaimed,  that  they  desired  not  to  disturb  the 
union  between  the  colonies  and  the  mother  country,  but  rather  to  re¬ 
store  it.  On  the  28th  day  of  July,  the  Irish  Address  was  read  by  para¬ 
graphs  and  agreed  to,  while  it  was  drafted  with  a  force  and  couched  in 
a  dignity  of  language,  calculated  to  chain  the  sympathies,  and  to  arouse 
the  indignation  of  a  freedom-loving  people.  All  these  writings  were 
drawn  up  in  a  very  masterly  manner  ;  while  in  respect  to  art,  address 
and  execution,  they  are  equal  to  any  public  declarations  made  by  any 
powers  or  upon  the  greatest  occasions.96 

On  the  first  day  of  August,  the  Congress  adjourned  for  five  weeks, 
leaving  the  insurgent  country  without  a  visible  government,  and  no  re¬ 
presentative  of  its  unity  but  Washington  and  the  army.  The  council 
deliberations  of  Congress  had  been  held  with  closed  doors  ;  divisions  of 
opinion  and  hesitation  were  known  to  prevail  among  the  members  ;  but, 
the  influence  of  a  majority  among  the  more  clear-sighted  began  to  turn 
the  scale  in  favour  of  independence.  The  King  and  his  ministers  had 
great  hopes  of  inducing  Catherine,  Empress  of  Russia,  to  form  an  alli¬ 
ance  with  England,  and  to  hire  twenty  thousand  of  her  troops  for  the 
suppression  of  the  colonial  insurgents.97  But,  this  negociation  utterly 
failed,  and  Catherine  soon  disabused  the  negociators  of  any  idea  that  she 
could  dishonourably  traffic  in  the  blood  of  her  subjects.  The  next  appli¬ 
cation  was  made  to  the  smaller  and  more  greedy  princes  of  Germany,  who 
on  the  failure  of  that  great  speculation  had  the  British  exchequer  at  their 
mercy.98  Reinforements  for  America  were  now  required ;  and  accor- 


94  See  Gibbon’s  posthumous  Works, 
Vol.  i.,  p.  496. 

95  On  the  28th  of  August,  1775. 
See  John  Adolphus’  “  History  of 
England  from  the  Accession  of 
George  the  Third,  to  the  conclusion 
of  Peace  in  the  year  One  Thousand 

j  Seven  hundred  and  Eighty-three,” 
Vol.  ii. ,  chap,  xxviii.  p.  346. 


96  See  the  “  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1775,  Vol  xviii.,  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  viii.,  p.  140. 

97  See  John  Adolphus’  “  History  of 
England  from  the  Accession  of  King 
George  the  Third,”  &c.,  Vol.  ii., 
chap,  xxvii.,  p.  344. 

98  About  17,000  German  Mercena¬ 
ries  were  hired  for  the  purpose  of 


ax  2. 


176 


IRIS II- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


dingly,  five  regiments  of  infantry  with  field  pieces  and  ammunition  were 
ordered  to  be  in  readiness  to  sail  from  Cork  early  in  December.  This 
force  soon  afterwards  was  made  equal  to  seven  regiments.  Ten  thousand 
stand  of  ai  ms  was  supplied  to  arm  the  loyalists  in  America,  and  who  now 
wei-e  represented,  as  ready  to  rally  round  the  royal  standard.  Towards  the 
close  of  October  Parliament  opened,  when  the  cabinet  was  able  to  carry 
out  measures  of  coercion  despite  every  effort  of  the  opposition.  In 
November,  it  was  sought  to  send  four  thousand  troops  on  the  Irish 
establishment  to  America,  and  the  consent  of  the  Irish  House  of 
Commons  was  requested  to  favour  such  a  measure,  it  being  proposed 
that  four  thousand  of  the  hired  German  Protestants  should  replace 
them.  Notwithstanding  the  vehement  opposition  of  Ponsonby,  Fitz- 
gibbon,  Newenham,  Ogle  and  Hussey  Burgh,  in  that  placeman  assembly, 
the  Irish  troops  were  voted  by  121  against  76,  although  the  resolution 
to  replace  them  by  foreign  Protestants  was  negatived  by  106  against  68. 

Before  Congress  had  organized  an  army,  or  appointed  a  single 
military  officer,  early  in  the  month  of  June,  Colonel  Arnold  urged 
upon  the  American  delegates  the  desirability  of  engaging  in  offensive 
war  by  the  invasion  of  Canada.  He  offered  with  a  force  of  2,000  men 
to  reduce  that  whole  province.  This  was  deemed,  too  serious  a  step  for 
adoption  at  first,  but  as  the  increasing  fervour  of  the  public  mind  pro¬ 
gressed,  and  as  events  determined,  the  proposition  was  at  length  received 
with  favour.  Besides,  it  was  hoped,  that  the  people  of  Canada  would 
gladly  embrace  an  opportunity  to  throw  oft  the  English  yolk.  About 
the  months  of  July  and  August,  General  Philip  Schuyler  was  at  Albany 
endeavouring  to  effect  a  treaty  with  the  Indians,  who  were  otherwise 
solicited  by  the  British  to  arm  on  their  side.  The  latter  appeal  proved 
most  successful,  and  great  efforts  were  made,  likewise,  to  attach  the 
Canadians  to  the  English  service,  yet  with  most  divided  results.  Having 
selected  another  force,  General  Schuyler  was  despatched  by  General 
Washington,  and  with  the  approbation  of  Congress,  to  create  a 
diversion  by  penetrating  into  Canada.  He  issued  an  address  to  the 
people  offering  the  restoration  of  their  rights  and  freedom  of  worship. 
However,  he  fell  sick  on  the  way,"  and  the  duty  devolved  on  the  leader 
second  in  command.100  This  Irish  Major-General  Richard  Montgo- 


carrying  on  the  war,  and  as  most  of 
these  were  obtained  from  the  Prince 
of  Hesse  Cassel,  it  so  happened,  all 
belonging  to  that  foreign  contingent 
went  by  the  general  name  of  Hessians 
during  the  Revolutionary  war  See 
George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
United  States,”  Vol.  viii.,  chap,  lvii  , 
p.  250  to  271. 

99  Brigadier- General  William  Max¬ 
well  was  an  Irishman,  who  joined  the 
army  at  the  commencement  of  the 
war!  He  was  appointed  Colonel  in 
1776,  and  he  served  on  Lake  Champ¬ 


lain  und£r  General  Schuyler.  He  was 
appointed  Brigadier  in  same  year ;  later 
he  was  at  Trenton,  Brandywine,  Ger¬ 
mantown,  and  with  the  army  at  Valley 
Forge.  He  was  in  active  pursuit 
of  Clinton  across  New  Jersey,  and 
he  sustained  an  important  part  in  the 
battle  of  Monmouth.  Washington 
said  of  him,  “  I  know  him  to  be  an 
honest  man,  a  warm  friend  to  his 
country,  and  firmly  attached  to  its 
interests.” 

100  See  William  Edward  Hartpole 
Becky’s  “  History  of  England  in  the 


EXPEDITION  AGAINST  THE  ENGLISH  IN  CANADA.  177 

mery101  was  destined  to  direct  an  expedition,  requiring  exercise  of  the 
highest  courage  and  of  the  most  consummate  judgment.  A  body  of 
troops  from  New  York  and  New  England  was  sent  forward  to 
Ticonderoga.  There  Montgomery  arrived  on  the  17th  August.102  He 
opened  a  brilliant  and  most  successful  campaign,  but  with  a  totally 
insufficient  force  of  1,000  men,  and  under  astonishing  difficulties.103 
The  English  garrison  at  Quebec  was  then  very  weak,  nor  was  there  a 
sufficient  number  of  troops  available  to  guard  every  part  of  an  exposed 
frontier.  At  this  time,  Sir  Guy  Carleton104  was  in  command  of  the 
British  forces  in  Canada,  and  he  endeavoured  by  every  means  to  induce 
the  Canadians  to  take  up  arms  against  the  Americans  ;  but,  he  sought 
in  vain  the  co-operation  of  Brand,  the  Catholic  Bishop  of  Quebec,  to 
publish  a  mandement  to  be  read  from  the  pulpit  by  the  curates  during 
Divine  service.105  However,  some  of  the  clergy  and  the  landholders 
were  ready  to  second  Carleton’s  views. 

The  Americans  effected  a  landing  with  great  difficulty  at  St.  John’s 
and  Chambly  on  the  River  Sorel,  the  outlet  of  Lake  Champlain,  early  in 


Eighteenth  Century,”  Vol.  iii.,  chap, 
xii.,  p.  436. 

i°)  He  was  born  near  Raphoe,  in  the 
county  of  Donegal,  on  the  2nd  of 
December  1736.  At  an  early  age, 
be  entered  the  British  service,  and 
his  first  campaign  was  in  America. 
His  military  qualities  and  conspicu¬ 
ous  bravery  had  him  soon  promoted 
t*o  the  rank  of  Lieutenant.  However, 
after  his  return  to  Ireland,  thinking 
himself  over-reached  and  treated  with 
injustice,  selling  his  commission  in 
disgust,  he  emigrated  to  New  York. 
In  1773  he  renewed  a  former  acquaint¬ 
ance  with  the  family  of  Robert  R. 
Livingstone  and  married  his  daughter. 
He  then  settled  down  to  a  peaceful 
life ;  but,  in  April  1775,  he  was 
selected  as  a  delegate  to  the  first  pro¬ 
vincial  convention  in  New  York. 

nw  When  the  war  broke  out,  it 
found  Montgomery  ready  to  take  up 
arms  with  Washington  in  defence  of 
American  independence.  That  gene¬ 
ral  knowing  Montgomery  to  be  a 
good  soldier,  and  a  staunch  rebel, 
immediately  promoted  him  to  the 
rank  of  Brigadier-General.  At  this 
time,  Montgomery  was  married  and 
living  on  his  farm  in  Rhinebeck,  in 
Duchess  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  promotion 
was  entirely  unsolicited  by  him,  but 
he  would  not  refuse  it.  In  writing  to  a 
friend  he  said :  “  The  Congress  hav¬ 

ing  done  me  the  honour  of  electing 
me  a  Brigadier-General  in  their  ser¬ 


vice  is  an  event  which  must  put  an 
end  for  a  while,  perhaps  for  ever,  to 
the  quiet  scene  of  life  I  had  prescribed 
for  myself ;  for  though  entirely  un¬ 
expected  and  undesired  by  me,  the 
will  of  an  oppressed  people  must  be 
obeyed.”  These  were  noble  senti¬ 
ments,  and  in  a  few  months  he  sealed 
them  with  his  blood.  His  last  words 
to  his  wife — a  daughter  of  Judge 
Livingstone — when  leaving  her  to  join 
the  army  were :  “  You  shall  never 

have  cause  to  blush  for  your  Mont¬ 
gomery.” 

103  See  John  Armstrong’s  “  Life  of 
Montgomery.”  Boston,  1834,  8vo. 

104  He  was  born  in  Strabane,  Ireland, 
on  the  3rd  of  September  1724.  He 
was  appointed  Governor  of  New  York 
in  1772,  and  he  commanded  the 
invading  army  of  New  York  State, 
a.d.  1776.  He  was  created  Lord  Dor¬ 
chester,  after  returning  to  England  in 
1783.  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia 
of  American  Biographv,”  Vol.  i.,  p. 
525. 

105  “  He  also  urged  the  prelate  to 
exhort  the  people  to  take  up  arms 
against  the  colonists.  But  the  con¬ 
sistent  bishop  refused  to  exert  his 
influence  in  such  a  cause,  and  plainly 
told  Carleton  that  such  conduct  would 
be  unworthy  of  a  faithful  pastor,  and 
derogatory  to  the  Canons  of  the  Rom¬ 
ish  Church.” — Benson  J.  Lossing’s 
“Pictorial  Field  Book  of  the  Revolu 
tion,”  Vol.  i.,  chap.  vii. ,  p.  158. 

N 


1KISH-AMKRICAN  HISTORY  OF  THIS  UNITED  STATES. 


the  month  of  September.  The  fortifications  there  were  found  to  lie 
much  stronger  than  had  been  anticipated.  Wherefore,  having  sum¬ 
moned  a  council  of  war,  it  was  resolved  to  retreat  on  Isle  Aux  Noix, 
twelve  miles  south  from  St.  John’s,  and  to  throw  a  boom  across  the 
river  channel.  General  Montgomery  returned  after  a  few  days,  and 
opened  a  battery  against  St.  John’s  ;  but,  being  deficient  in  ammunition 
lie  failed,  and  then  proceeded  to  reduce  Fort  Chambly  about  six  miles 
distant.  There  he  obtained  six  tons  of  gunpowder.  This  enabled  him 
to  prosecute  the  siege.  Colonel  Wai'ner  with  300  Green  Mountain 
Boys  prevented  the  Governor  of  Canada  from  crossing  the  St.  Lawrence. 
When  this  hope  of  relief  failed,  Major  Preston  the  commanding  officer 
surrendered,  having  received  honourable  terms  of  capitulation.  About 
500  regular  troops  and  100  Canadians  became  prisoners,  while  39  pieces 
of  cannon — many  of  them  ’brass  field  pieces — seven  mortars,  two  how¬ 
itzers  and  800  stand  of  arms  were  captured.106 

Immediately  afterwards,  Montgomery  marched  towards  Montreal, 
whence  Sir  Guy  Carleton  was  conveyed  in  a  boat  with  muffled  paddles  to 
the  Three  Rivers.  Subsequently,  he  reached  Quebec.  General  Prescot 
with  several  officers  and  about  120  privates  went  on  board  the  vessels, 
thus  hoping  to  escape  down  the  river,  but  they  were  prevented,  and  on 
terms  of  capitulation  their  surrender  was  accepted.  Afterwards,  the 
American  General  captured  Montreal,  and  then  he  took  possession  of 
eleven  vessels  on  the  river,  with  all  the  British  shipping  along  the  upper 
St.  Lawrence.107  A  seasonable  store  of  ammunition,  provisions  and 
military  implements  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  captors.  Montreal  sur¬ 
rendered  at  discretion,  and  as  it  contained  many  of  those  articles  which 
by  resolution  of  Congress  could  not  be  imported  into  the  colonies,  so  a 
plentiful  supply  of  clothing  was  obtained  by  the  Americans.  So  far,  every 
enterprise  had  been  successful.  Montgomery’s  efforts  were  next  directed 
against  Quebec,  then  a  strongly  fortified  city  on  the  lower  St.  Lawrence. 
Having  left  some  soldiers  in  Montreai,  where  he  had  already  ingratiated 
himself  with  the  Canadians  of  French  extraction,  he  sent  other  detach¬ 
ments  into  different  parts  of  the  province.  Owing  to  the  address  of 
the  General  and  the  goodness  of  the  man,  he  contrived  to  keep  up  the 
spirits  and  discipline  of  soldiers  among  his  irregular  bands,  under 
astonishing  difficulty  of  means  and  position.  His  great  desire  was  to 
gain  the  Canadians  over  to  the  American  cause  ;  but  unfortunately  for 
him,  an  outburst  of  bigotry  in  New  York,  when  the  Quebec  Act  became 
law  in  1774,  and  certain  insulting  resolutions  of  the  Continental  Con¬ 
gress— as  impolitic  as  they  were  unjust — caused  a  great  part  of  the 


106  Colonel  Allen,  who  had  been  de¬ 
tached  on  a  tour  with  86  men,  was 
made  prisoner  near  Montreal,  whiie 
the  siege  was  proceeding,  and  con¬ 
trary  to  the  terms  of  his  surrender, 
he  was  loaded  with  irons,  and  sent 
as  a  captive  to  England.  He  after¬ 
wards  published  an  interesting  narra¬ 


tive  of  the  hardships  and  persecutions 
he  endured  in  pr.son,  until  he  was 
exchanged  at  New  York  in  May 
1778. 

107  See  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
United  States,”  Vol.  viii. ,  chap.  Iii. , 
pp.  176  to  188.  Ninth  Edition. 
Boston,  1874. 


FIRST  SUCCESS — ASSAULT  ON  QUEBEC. 


179 


people  there  to  regard  the  invaders  and  their  objects  with  great  distrust. 
Thus,  his  efforts  and  influence  to  gain  over  the  natives  proved  abortive, 
and  owing  mainly  to  the  British  governmental  tolerance  towards  their 
Catholic  subjects  in  Canada,  as  guaranteed  to  them  by  treaty.108 

Meantime,  an  expeditionary  force  of  1,000  men  had  been  drawn  from 
the  camp  at  Cambridge  and  placed  under  the  command  of  Benedict 
Arnold  to  co-operate  in  the  enterprize,  and  this  had  been  detached  against 
Lower  Canada.  He  marched  from  Boston  and  ascended  the  Kennebec 
River  in  boats,  and  then  struck  across  the  wilderness  to  the  head  waters 
of  the  Chaudiere  River.  Several  of  his  men  succumbed  to  the  hardships  of 
this  journey  and  many  deserted  their  leader.109  The  remainder  floated 
down  the  Chaudiere  to  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  Arnold  reached  Point  Levi 
opposite  to  Quebec,  in  the  beginning  of  November.  Little  more  than  half 
of  his  detachment  had  accompanied  him  to  this  destination.  However, 
had  not  the  river  intervened,  and  some  time  being  required  to 
provide  canoes,  the  capital  of  Canada  might  have  fallen  an  easy  prey 
to  the  Americans,  in  the  first  moments  of  panic  and  surprise.110  They 
crossed  over  to  the  heights  of  Abraham,  and  made  a  reconnaisance 
around  the  suburbs  of  St.  Roch,  beyond  the  walls.  Not  able  to 
attempt  the  city,  Arnold  moved  his  forces  up  to  Point  aux  Trembles, 
thus  interposing  between  Quebec  and  Montreal.  That  place  he  reached 
on  the  19th  of  November,111  and  there  he  waited  the  orders  of  Mont¬ 
gomery.  A  manifesto  signed  by  Washington  had  been  sent  from 
Cambridge,  and  it  was  largely  circulated  among  the  Canadians,  in 
which  invitations  to  range  themselves  under  the  standard  of  liberty 
were  given,  while  it  was  proclaimed,  that  the  Americans  came  not  to 
plunder  but  to  protect  them.  Meantime,  Sir  Guy  Carleton  had  been 
absent  from  Quebec  when  Arnold  arrived,  while  such  was  the 
astonishment  and  panic  occasioned  by  his  appearance,  that  the 
garrison  feared  the  result  of  his  approach.  But,  Arnold  had  no 
artillery.  After  a  few  days’  delay,  he  again  crossed  the  river,  when 
already  solid  preparations  for  the  defence  of  Quebec  had  been 
made.  A  regiment  of  Canadians  in  the  pay  of  Congress  was  now 
organized  by  their  commandant  James  Livingston,  a  native  of  New 
York,  but  who  had  long  resided  in  Canada,  and  who  had  great  influence 
there.  Other  sympathising  residents  had  furnished  money  for  siq  >port  of 
the  American  troops.  To  attempt  the  siege  of  Quebec  in  conjunction  with 


108  See  John  Gilmary  Shea’s  “  Life 
and  Times  of'  the  Most  Rev.  John 
Carroll,”  chap.  iii. ,  iv.,  pp.  131  to 
145. 

109  Among  his  expeditionaries  was 
Aaron  Burr,  afterwards  Vice-Presi¬ 
dent  of  the  United  States,  and  then 
only  about  twenty  years  of  age.  See 
John  Joseph  Henry’s  “  Accurate  and 
Interesting  Account  of  the  Hardships 
and  Sufferings  of  that  Band  of  Heroes 
who  traversed  the  Wilderness  in  the 


Campaign  against  Quebec  in  1775. ” 
Lancaster,  1812,  8vo. 

110  See  Lord  Mahon’s  “  History  of 
England  from  the  Peace  of  Utrecht,” 
Voi.  vi.,  chap,  liii.,  p.  117,  and  Louis 
P.  Turcotte’s  “  Invasion  du  Canada 
et  Siege  de  Quebec  en  1775-76.”  Que¬ 
bec,  1876,  8vo. 

111  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  viii., 
chap,  liii.,  pp.  190  to  191.  Also  the 
work  of  Louis  P.  Turcotte. 


180 


1RISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


his  commander,  Colonel  Arnold  had  then  collected  his  troops  at  Point 
aux  Trembles. 

There  he  was  met  by  General  Montgomery,  who  now  assumed  com¬ 
mand  of  their  united  force,  which  did  not  greatly  exceed  1,000  men.  On 
the  5th  of  December,  their  small  detachments  appeared  before  Quebec. 
Soon  afterwards,  the  Americans  to  the  number  of  400  occupied  the 
large  Hdpital  General  and  Convent  of  the  nuns  in  the  suburb  of  St. 
Roch,  to  the  great  inconvenience  of  the  Religieuses ;  there  likewise 
General  Montgomery  and  Colonel  Arnold  visited  the  place,  to  make 
observations  for  planting  a  batter}’  before  St.  John’s  Gate,  and  for  such 
purpose  they  ascended  into  the  belfry.112  On  the  10th,  and  at  an  early 
hour,  the  Americans  opened  fire  before  the  fortifications,  and  the  English 
guns  returned  it.  A  very  ineffective  battery  of  six  pieces  was  set  up,  when 
General  Montgomery  vainly  tried  to  intimidate  the  Governor,  by  exag¬ 
gerating  the  number  of  his  troops,  and  their  dispositions  for  attack.113 

The  Canadian  winter  had  now  set  in  with  its  usual  rigour ;  the 
period  for  which  the  American  soldiers  were  obliged  to  serve  was  fast 
drawing  to  a  close ;  their  specie  was  becoming  deficient,  and  the 
American  Colonial  money  was  not  taken  ;  moreover,  on  the  other  hand, 
the  garrison  of  Quebec  had  been  well  reinforced  and  the  defences 
strengthened  ;  it  was  well  supplied  with  food  and  munition;  while  the 
numerical  force  of  the  besieged  greatly  exceeded  that  of  the  besiegers. 
Under  such  circumstances  Montgomery  concluded,  that  the  siege  must 
either  be  raised,  or  the  place  should  be  attempted  by  storm — the  latter 
an  exceedingly  perilous  enterprise.114  He  had  only  a  few  guns  and 
mortars  to  bombard  the  fortifications,  and  on  trial,  these  were  found  to 
be  of  too  small  a  calibre  for  that  purpose.  He  then  called  a  council  of 
war,  when  it  was  determined  to  carry  the  town  by  assault. 

While  the  Catholic  Clergy  of  that  Province,  enjoying  certain, 
chartered  privileges  for  their  religion,  were  opposed  to  the  invasion,  the 
people  at  large  were  generally  on  Montgomery’s  side.  He  hoped  for 
co-operation  from  the  French  inhabitants,  had  his  first  attack  proved 
successful  ;  since  the  still  stronger  and  almost  impregnable  fortifications 
of  the  upper  town  had  again  to  be  assailed.  The  advance  was  made 
along  the  river  bank  through  the  lower  town,  where  a  breastwork 
had  been  erected  by  the  British  Commandant  of  the  garrison.  In  a 
desperate  attempt,  and  with  a  very  inadequate  force  under  cover  of  a 


112  These  particulars — not  generally 
known  to  historians — are  to  be  found 
in  a  contemporaneous  Chronicle  of  the 
Convent,  and  written  by  a  nun,  who 
describes  what  she  knew  of  such  in¬ 
cidents.  They  are  inserted  in  a  most 
interesting  and  learned,  but  anony¬ 
mous  work  in  French,  yet  compiled 
by  an  Irish  Sister  of  that  institution. 
It  bears  for  title  : — “  Monseigneur  de 
Saint-Vallier  et  l’Hopital  General  de 
Quebec.”  TTistorie  du  MonasDre  de 


Notre-Dame  des  Anges  (Religieuses 
Hospitalieres  de  la  Misercorde  de 
Jesus)  Ordre  de  Saint- Augustin.  Deux- 
ieme  Parti e,  chap,  iv.,  pp.  405  to 
408.  Quebec,  1882,  8vo. 

113  See  Michaud’s  “  Biographie  Uni- 
verselle,  Ancienne  et  Moderne,”  Tome 
xxix.  Art.  Montgomery  (Richard)  p. 
139. 

1,4  See  the  “  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1776,  Vol.  xix.,  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  i.,  pp.  1  to  13. 


MONTGOMERY’?  DEFEAT  AND  HEROIC  DEATn.  18  £ 

blinding  snow  storm,  he  attempted  the  assault  on  Quebec.  Accordingly, 
between  three  and  four  o’clock  on  the  morning  of  the  31st  December 
1775,  the  troops  were  put  in  motion.  Then,  Montgomery  leading  the 
New  York  men  rushed  over  snow,  ice  and  rocks,  until  he  reached  the 
first  barrier,  and  in  an  instant  the  work  was  carried.  The  second  waa 
just  before  him,  and  dimly  seen  through  the  faint  light,  guarded  by  a 
row  of  pallisades.  For  an  instant  Montgomery  halted ;  it  was  while 
his  troops  gathered  round  him  for  another  rush.  He  pointed  with  his 
sword  to  the  pallisades  ahead.  His  eye  kindled  and  his  form  dilated. 
“  Men  of  New  York,”  he  cried,  “  you  will  not  fear  to  follow  where  your 
general  leads — march  on  !  ”  Pronouncing  these  stirring  words,  he 
dashed  forward,  followed  by  his  comrades.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to 
gain  the  pickets,  which  he  seized  with  his  own  hands,  and  he  began 
pull  ing  them  up,  his  men  eagerly  imitating  that  example ;  while  every 
thing  hitherto  done  promised  a  speedy  and  glorious  victory.  Pressing 
exultingly  on,  they  had  gained  a  rising  ground  about  thirty  yards  from 
the  barrier,  when  suddenly  a  couple  of  cannon,  which  had  been 
masked  there,  were  discharged  down  the  passage.  The  effect  was 
terrific.  The  Americans  crowded  together  were  mowed  down  in  heaps 
the  path  of  that  hurricane  of  balls  being  as  distinctly  marked  as  a 
windfall  in  the  forest.  Being  foremost,  their  leader  was  one  of 
the  first  to  fall ;  the  two  aids  at  his  side  followed  him  so  instan¬ 
taneously,  that  the  bodies  of  all  three  rolled  over  together  on  the 
ice,  and  by  that  side  of  the  river  which  flowed  near  their  feet.  Almost 
at  the  first  instant  of  the  second  charge  Montgomery  was  killed.115 

On  the  opposite  side  of  the  city,  at  a  place  called  Saut-au-Matelot, 
and  nearly  simultaneously,  another  brave  effort  to  carry  it  by  assault 
had  been  made  by  the  division  destined  for  that  attempt.  At  first,  also, 
fortune  seemed  to  crown  it  with  success.  It  failed,  however,  although 
desperately  directed  by  Arnold  who  was  severely  wounded.  His  troops 
forced  the  English  to  retreat  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city  ;  but  General 
Carleton  sending  reinforcements  from  the  garrison  took  the  Americans 
in  the  rear,  and  thus  placed  between  two  fires,  they  were  obliged  to 
surrender  their  arms.  With  the  loss  of  300  men,  killed  and  wounded, 
the  besiegers  were  repulsed  before  the  walls  of  Quebec,  and  they  were 
obliged  to  retire,  while  many  of  them  were  made  prisoners  of  War. 
Their  brave  General  Montgomery  fell  gloriously  on  the  last  day  of  that 


115  In  the  course  of  that  day,  his 
body  was  found  half  buried  in  the 
snow,  with  a  dozen  other  corpses,  and 
at  a  short  distance  from  the  barrier, 
through  which  he  desired  to  enter 
the  city.  The  soldiers  cut  off  his  head, 
carried  it  round  in  triumph,  and  fixed 
it  on  the  end  of  a  halbert.  The  Ameri¬ 
can  officers  who  had  been  taken  pris¬ 
oners  knew  not  at  first  what  had  be¬ 
come  of  their  general ;  but,  seeing 


his  sword  in  the  hands  of  an  English 
officer  they  no  longer  doubted  about 
his  death,  and  they  burst  into  tears 
To  the  credit  of  the  governor,  how¬ 
ever,  he  had  the  body  of  Montgomery 
buried  with  military  honours  within 
the  city.  See  F.  X.  Garneau’s  “His 
toire  du  Canada,”  depuis  sa  Decou- 
vert  jusq’  a  nos  Jours.  Tome  iii., 
Liv.  ii.,  chap,  i.,  p.  5,  Ed.  of  1882. 


182. 


1  KISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

year.116  So  passed  away  from  life  the  spirit  of  that  heroic  man,  with 
the  love  of  all  who  knew  him,  the  grief  of  the  nascent  republic,  and  the 
eulogies  of  the  world.117  Even  in  the  British  Parliament,  his  veteran 
fellow-soldiers  in  the  late  war  were  filled  with  sorrow,  while  pronouncing 
his  eulogy.  Among  others,  Edmund  Burke  contrasted  the  condition  of 
the  eight  thousand  men — starved,  disgraced  and  shut  up  in  the  single 
town  of  Boston — with  the  movements  of  a  hero,  who  in  one  campaign 
had  nearly  conquered  Canada.118  Six  weeks  after  his  death,  public 
services  in  his  honour  took  place  before  the  American  Congress,  and  to 
the  present  day  his  memory  is  held  in  great  veneration  throughout  the 
United  States.119 


CHAPTER  XII- 


rhe  Siege  of  Quebec — Contests  in  the  South — Preparations  in  England  to  crush 
the  Rebellion — The  Siege  and  Taking  of  Boston — Arrival  of  Jin  Lis h  Troops 
and  Foreign  Auxiliaries — Retreat  from  Quebec— The  British  Attempt  upon 
New  York  foiled,  and  subsequent  Failure  at  Charleston — Congress  organizes  a 
Navy — Agitation  and  Debates  before  the  Declaration  of  Independence- 
Names  of  the  Signers. 

During  the  winter  of  1775  and  the  spring  of  1776,  the  defeated 
Americans  persevered  in  blockading  Quebec.1  The  command  had  now 
devolved  on  Schuyler,  but  practically  it  passed  to  Arnold,  who,  notwith¬ 
standing  the  inconveniences  experienced  from  his  severe  wound,  the 
i  igours  of  the  season,  and  the  trying  difficulties  of  his  position,  mani¬ 
fested  a  courage,  endurance  and  fertility  of  resources  deserving  the 
highest  commendation.2 


116  After  the  battle,  his  body  was 
harled  near  the  spot  wheie  it  fell. 
Forty  years  afterwards  his  remains 
were  disinterred,  and  conveyed  to  the 
city  of  New  York,  where  they  were 
deposited  with  august  ceremonies 

,  near  that  handsome  monument,  which 
Congress  had  erected  to  his  memory, 
and  in  front  of  St.  Paul’s  church,  on 
Broadway.  His  name  has  ever  been 
cherished  with  peculiar  fondness  by 
Irish  and  Irish- Americans. 

117  See  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
United  States,”  Yol.  viii.,  chap,  liv., 
pp.  199  to  212. 

118  To  such  remarks,  in  a  reluctant 
eulogy,  Lord  North  replied :  “  I  can¬ 
not  join  in  lamenting  the  death  of 
Montgomery  as  a  public  loss.  He  was 
brave,  he  was  able,  he  was  humane, 
he  was  generous ;  but  still  he  was 
only  a  brave,  able,  humane  and  gene¬ 


rous  rebel.  Curse  on  his  virtues, 
they’ve  undone  his  country.” 

119  By  desire  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  an  address  was  drawn  up 
and  delivered  by  William  Smith, 
D.D.,  Provost  of  the  College  and 
Academy  of  Philadelphia  on  Febru¬ 
ary  19th  1776 :  “  An  Oration  in 

Memory  of  General  Montgomery  and 
of  the  Officers  and  Soldiers  who  fell 
with  him,  December  31st  1775.”  It 
is  printed  in  the  “Journal  of  Con¬ 
gress,”  Vol.  i.,  p.  247. 

1  See  “  History  of  the  War  with 
America,  France,  Spain,  and  Holland, 
commencing  in  1775,  and  ending  in 
1783,”  by  John  Andrews,  LL.D.  Vol. 
i.,  chap*,  i.  ii.  In  four  volumes. 
London,  1875,  8vo. 

2  Unfortunately,  as  shall  be  seen  in 
the  sequel,  his  early  services  and 
promises  of  being  useful  to  his  coun- 


Til K  SIEGE  OF  QUEBEC 


1S3 

At  ibis  period,  also,  the  American  cause  ha<i  been  rendered  popular 
throughout  the  nations  of  Europe ;  and,  when  commissions  were  pro¬ 
visionally  offered,  numbers  of  able  and  zealous  officers  wished  to  place 
themselves  under  Washington’s  command.3  Casimir  Pulaski,  a  brave 
Pole,  volunteered  to  serve  in  the  American  ranks,  for  which  purpose  ho 
sailed  from  France  towards  the  close  of  1775. 4  Early  in  1776,  several 
of  the  supernumerary  or  reformed  officers  of  the  Irish  Brigades  in  France 
resolved  on  joining  the  Americans  in  their  contest  with  Great  Britain. 
Some  of  these  were  among  the  most  intelligent  and  capable  leaders  in 
Europe.5  On  the  other  hand,  seven  regiments  from  Ireland  were  ex 
peeled  to  muster  at  Cape  Fear  River  to  join  Sir  Henry  Clinton  in 
January,  and  to  prosecute  a  war  against  the  South,  as  an  exj>edition  to 
subdue  the  Carolinas  had  been  projected.8  Meantime,  Commissioners 
were  chosen  by  the  Continental  Congress  to  seduce  the  French-Canadians 
from  their  allegiance,  and  to  procure  their  co-operation — or  at  least  to 
secure  their  neutrality — during  that  war.  The  celebrated  Benjamin 
Franklin,  Samuel  Chase  and  Charles  Carroll  of  Carrolton  were  ap¬ 
pointed  delegates  on  the  15th  of  February.  A  cousin  of  the  latter, 
Father  John  Carroll7 — afterwards  first  Catholic  Bishop  of  the  United 


try  were  tarnished  by  his  subsequent 
treason  and  defection.  See  Jared 
Sparks’  “  Life  and  Treason  of  Bene¬ 
dict  Arnold,”  New  York,  1860,  8vo. 

3  In  reference  to  the  Revolutionary 
war,  the  writer  of  this  History  has 
very  generally  followed  the  statements 
of  a  most  judiciously  compiled  and 
fairly  impartial  Irish  work,  yet  by  an 
anonymous  author.  It  is  intituled : 
“The  History  of  the  War  in  Amer¬ 
ica,  between  Great  Britain  and  iier 
Colonies,  from  its  Commencement  to 
its  Conclusion,  in  1783.  In  which 
its  Origin,  Progress  and  Operations 
are  faithfully  related,  together  with 
Anecdotes  and  Characters  of  the  differ¬ 
ent  Commanders,  and  Accounts  of  such 
Personages  in  Congress  as  have  dis¬ 
tinguished  themselves  during  the  Con¬ 
test.  To  which  is  added  a  Collection 
of  interesting  and  authentic  Papers, 
tending  to  elucidate  the  History.” 
This  work  comprising  Three  Volumes, 
Octavo,  had  been  written  contempo¬ 
raneously  with  the  incidents  related. 
The  writer  states — in  his  Preface  to 
the  First  Volume — that  the  docu¬ 
ments  and  materials  he  used  had  been 
taken  from  the  most  reliable  authors 
and  from  the  best  authenticated  ac¬ 
counts.  Again  he  declares,  that  a 
great  deal  of  original  matter  had 
been  furnished  by  men  of  letters  and 
of  moderation,  while  he  indulges  a 


"hope,  that  the  publication  of  his  worir 
might  prove  friendly  to  Constitu¬ 
tional  Liberty,  to  Virtue,  and  to  the 
Country’s  Welfare.  This  volume 
contains  Twenty-tWo  chapters,  pp.  1 
to  399.  The  second  volume  comprises 
only  authentic  papers,  pp.  1  to  427, 
with  an  index  to  them.  The  Third 
volume  resumes  the  narrative  of  the* 
war  from  1778,  and  continues  it  to 
the  peace  in  1782,  in  Fourteen  chap¬ 
ters,  pp.  1  to  266.  Afterwards,  an 
Appendix  of  Documents  follows,  pp 
267  to  432,  while  a  Table  of  Content! 
to  these  is  prefixed.  On  the  title- 
page  is  inscribed — Dublin  :  Printed 
for  the  Company  of  Booksellers, 
MDCCLXXIX  to  MDCCLXXXV. , 
8vo., 

4  See  M.  le  Dr.  Hoefer’s  “  Nou- 
velle  Biographie  Generale,”  &c. , 
Tome  xli.,  cols.  193,  194. 

5  See  John  Cornelieus  O’Callaghan’s 
“  History  of  the  Irish  Brigades  in 
the  Service  of  France,”  Book  x.,  p. 
61 6. 

6  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  viii. , 
chap,  lviii.,  pp.  282,  283. 

7  See  John  Gilmary  Shea’s  “  Life 
and  Times  of  the  Most  Rev.  John 
Carroll,  Bishop  and  first  Archbishop 
of  Baltimore,”  Book  i.  chap.  iv.  pp. 
148  to  153. 


184 


IRISH -AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


States — was  associated  with  them  ;  as  it  was  known,  that  his  fluency  in 
speaking  French,  and  that  his  influence  as  a  priest,  must  have  weight 
among  a  Catholic  people,  such  as  they  were.  Soon  afterwards,  those 
delegates  proceeded  to  Montreal,  and  arrived  there  while  Arnold  was  still 
encamped  at  Quebec.  However,  the  various  attempts  to  produce  a  favour¬ 
able  impression  on  behalf  of  the  revolted  colonies  were  strenuously 
resisted  by  the  Bishop  of  Quebec,  and  by  his  clergy,  with  few  excep¬ 
tions.8  That  mission  resulted  in  failure,  and  those  Commissioners  were 
obliged  to  return  early  in  the  month  of  May. 

To  counterbalance  the  failure  of  that  Canadian  expedition,  Brigadier 
General  James  Moore9  of  North  Carolina  and  his  associate  leaders 
mustered  a  considerable  force  to  repress  those  who  had  taken  up  arms 
to  co-operate  with  the  British  army,  then  expected  to  arrive  in  that 
quarter.  Only  the  Highlanders  who  had  settled  there  and  a  few 
of  the  loyalists  assembled  for  the  encounter.  Splendid  and  decisive  suc¬ 
cesses  were  obtained  over  the  Scots  Royalists  who  fought  under  Donald 
MacDonald  and  Donald  MacLeod,10  in  February  1776.  Having  at 
first  marched  against  Moore’s  entrenched  camp  at  Rockfish,  and 
summoned  him  to  surrender  ;  he  instantly  replied,  that  neither  his 
duty  nor  inclination  permitted  him  to  accept  terms  incompatible  with 
American  freedom.  At  this  time,  Caswell  and  the  Minute  Men  of 
Newborn  were  marching  to  effect  a  junction  with  Moore.  Wherefore, 
MacDonald  found  himself  obliged  to  retreat  in  the  direction  of  Wil¬ 
mington,  and  to  cross  Cape  Fear  River.  He  hoped  to  surprise 
Caswell’s  detachment  of  1,000  men,  for  his  own  force  numbered 
between  fifteen  and  sixteen  hundred.  As  MacDonald  was  confined 
to  his  tent  by  illness,  the  command  devolved  on  MacLeod,  who 
attempted  an  hour  before  daylight  on  the  27th  of  February  to  cross 
Moore’s  Creek.  But,  the  Scots  were  received  with  a  galling  fire 
from  the  Americans,  and  their  leader  MacLeod  fell  mortally  wounded. 
After  a  vain  effort  to  cross  the  creek,  his  men  soon  gave  way  in 
despair,  and  the  fugitives  could  not  be  rallied.  They  lost  about  thirty 
killed  or  wounded,  while  on  the  following  day,  their  aged  chief 
MacDonald  and  many  others  of  their  principal  men  were  made 
prisoners.  These  were  transferred  to  Reading  in  Pennsylvania.  Eight 
or  nine  hundred  of  the  common  soldiers  were  taken,  disarmed  and 
dismissed.  Their  arms  and  munitions,  with  a  box  containing  £15,000 
sterling  in  gold,  were  secured  by  the  victors.  The  zealous  loyalist 


8  In  protesting  against  the  Quebec 
Statute  of  1774,  Congress  had  been 
led  to  express  astonishment,  that  the 
British  Parliament  should  ever  con¬ 
sent  to  establish  in  Canada  religious 
freedom  for  the  Catholics.  Their 
document  had  been  translated  into 
French,  and  afterwards  it  was  widely 
circulated  among  the  Canadians,  by 
the  Ministry  of  England,  in  order  to 
set  forth  Congressional  intolerance. 


9  He  was  the  son  of  Maurice  and 
grandson  to  James  Moore,  Governor 
of  South  Carolina,  who  was  born  in 
Ireland  about  1640,  and  who  died  in 
Charleston,  S.  C.,  in  1729.  See 
Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of  American 
Biography,”  Vol.  iv.,  pp.  381,  382. 

10  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  viii., 
chap,  lviii.,  pp.  283  to  289. 


THE  CONTESTS  IN  THE  SOUTH. 


185 


Colonial  Governor  named  Josiah  Martin11  had  promised  to  raise  10,000 
recruits  for  the  king  in  North  Carolina,  and  on  the  strength  of  his 
representations,  a  store  ship,  with  10,000  stand  of  arms  and  2,000,000 
of  cartridges,  was  then  on  the  Atlantic.  In  less  than  a  fortnight,  North 
Carolina  had  a  congressional  army  of  9,400  men  embodied  ;  while  the 
coming  of  Clinton  inspired  no  terror,  for  the  colonists  felt  persuaded, 
that  in  their  pine  woods  and  forests  they  would  prove  a  match  for  the 
regular  army,12 

The  British  forces  consisting  of  nearly  8,000  men,  besides  their  com¬ 
plements  in  the  ships  of  war,  were  now  beleagured  in  the  city  of  Boston. 
Their  provisions  and  munitions  were  abundantly  imported  from  Ireland, 
England,  Barbadoes  and  Antigua.13  All  the  land-ward  approaches 
were  held  by  the  Continentals.14  Expecting  the  arrival  of  reinforce¬ 
ments  in  early  summer,  the  garrison  nevertheless  had  little  thought  of 
danger.  The  officers  and  soldiers  endeavoured  to  beguile  their  time 
while  waiting  in  various  amusements. 

Meanwhile  George  III.  was  advising  Lord  North,  that  gigantic  pre¬ 
parations  should  be  made  to  crush  the  rebellion,  and  to  use  every  means 
for  distressing  America.15  Attempts  had  been  tried  to  raise  a  regiment  of 
Irish  Catholics,16  but  these  would  not  enlist.  The  Dissenters  were 
equally  adverse.17  Government  had  already  declined  offers  made  for 
recruiting  Highland  regiments:  those  propositions  wererejectedbecau.se 
their  loyalty  to  England  had  been  suspected.18  In  like  manner,  the 
troops  impoliticly  drawn  from  the  Irish  establishment,  and  despatched 
to  the  seat  of  war,  had  great  reluctance  to  shed  their  blood  in  the  quarrel 
with  America,  and  numbers  of  them  took  every  opportunity  afforded  to 
desert.19  About  this  time,  Lee  wrote  to  the  effect,  that  England’s 


"Being  now  completely  discom¬ 
fited  by  the  disaster  of  Moore’s 
Creek,  he  embarked  on  board  of  Sir 
Peter  Parker's  fleet,  and  ai'rived  at 
Charleston  in  -June  1776.  See  Lt.- 
Colonel  Tart  ton’s  “  History  of  the 
Campaigns  of  1780  and  1781,  in  the 
Southern  Provinces  of  North  Amer¬ 
ica,”  p.  324.  With  maps  and  plates. 
London,  1787,  Roy.  4to. 

12  See  Judge  Marshall’s  “  Life  of 
General  Washington,”  Vol.  ii.,  p. 
486. 

13  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  viii.,  chap, 
lix.,  p.  292. 

14  On  the  1st  of  January  1776,  a 
national  flag,  showing  thirteen  stripes 
of  white  and  red — without  the  sub¬ 
sequently  introduced  stars  in  a  blue 
field — was  displayed  for  the  first  time 
in  Washington’s  camp.  See  Captain 
Schuyler  Hamilton’s  “  History  of  the 
National  Flag  of  the  United  States,” 


with  coloured  plates  of  flags.  Phila¬ 
delphia,  1853,  12mo. 

15  See  “  The  Correspondence  of  King 
George  the  Third  with  Lord  North 
from  1768  to  1783,”  edited  from  the 
originals  at  Windsor,  by  W.  Bodham 
Donne,  Vol.  i..  Letters  316,  31  i,  pp. 
274  to  276.  London,  1867,  8vo. 

16  See  the  address  of  the  Lord  Lieu¬ 
tenant,  on  the  10th  of  October,  to 
the  Irish  Houses  of  Lords  and  Com¬ 
mons,  reported  in  the  “  Annual 
Register,”  Vol.  xviii.,  p.  266. 

17  See  the  letter  of  Edward  Gibbon 
to  Holroyd,  dated  October  14th  1775. 
“  Posthumus  Works,”  Vol.  i.,  p.496. 

18  See  Horace  Walpole’s  “  Journal 
of  the  Reign  of  King  George  the 
Third,  from  the  year  1771  to  1783,” 
Vol.  i.,  August,  1775,  p.  500. 

19  The  deserters  usually  joined  the 
provincials,  while  they  often  acted  as 
masters  of  drill  and  as  subalterns  in 
military  exercises. 


186  IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

applications  for  aid  were  almost  annihilated  in  Germany,  and  that 
their  last  resource  was  to  the  Roman  Catholics  of  Ireland.20 

From  certain  movements  observed  in  the  fleet  during  the  siege  of 
Boston,  Washington  rightly  conjectured,  that  the  English  meditated 
the  seizure  of  New  York.21  He  therefore  entrusted  General  Lee  to 
raise  volunteers  in  Connecticut,  and  to  occupy  that  city.22  Accord¬ 
ingly,  when  the  British  expedition  under  Sir  Henry  Clinton  arrived  in 
New  York  Harbour,  on  the  4th  of  February  1776,  the  Americans 
were  quite  prepared  to  receive  him.  He  then  abandoned  that  enter¬ 
prise,  and  sailed  towards  the  South,  where  he  intended  to  commence 
operations  against  South  Carolina. 

Notwithstanding  the  care,  zeal  and  devotion  of  their  distinguished 
and  patriotic  leader,  the  volunteers  and  militia  under  his  command 
proved  to  be  very  insubordinate,23  and  when  permitted  to  visit  their 
homes  on  furlough,  many  of  them  did  not  return,  while  the  army 
before  Boston  gradually  dwindled  down,  so  that  Washington  was  obliged 
constantly  to  urge  upon  Congress  the  necessity  for  forming  regular 
and  disciplined  regiments.  In  February  1776  he  declared,  how  great 
art  had  to  be  used,  so  that  their  desperate  situation  might  be  concealed 
even  from  his  own  officers.24  The  emergency  for  action  was  pressing, 
and  every  effort  was  made  to  remedy  the  evils  of  which  he  complained. 
Alarmed  by  the  rumours  of  vast  armaments  expected  to  arrive  soon 
from  England,  Congress  sent  a  secret  message  to  Washington,  that  cost 
what  it  might,  Boston  must  be  taken,  in  order  to  release  his  army 
for  other  enterprises.25 


20  He  states  :  “  ^key  have  already 
experienced  their  unwillingness  to  go ; 
every  man  of  a  regiment  raised  there 
last  year  having  obliged  them  to  ship 
him  off  tied  and  bound.  And,  most 
certainly,  the  Irish  Catholics  will  de¬ 
sert  more  than  any  other  troops  what¬ 
ever.”  Arthur  Lee’s  letter  to  Wash¬ 
ington. 

21  James  McHenry  was  born  in  Ire¬ 
land,  16th  Nov.  1753,  and  he  went 
to  Philadelphia  about  1771.  He  ac¬ 
companied  Washington  to  the  camp 
at  Cambridge,  and  joined  the  army 
as  assistant  surgeon  in  January 
1776.  He  was  maue  prisoner  at  Fort 
Washington,  but  he  was  exchanged 
in  the  spring  of  1778.  He  was  in 
the  Maryland  Senate  1781-1786,  and 
in  1783  he  was  appointed  to  Congress 
in  p’ace  of  Edward  Giles.  He  held 
office  to  1786 — double  duty  in  the 
state  and  continental  legislatures 
being  customary'  at  that  time.  He 
became  a  member  of  Washington’s 
cabinet  as  secretary  of  war,  January 
1796,  and  to  1801  he  served  under 


President  Adams.  He  died  in  1816 
in  Baltimore.  Fort  McHenry  was 
called  after  him.  See  Appleton’s 
“Cyclopaedia  of  American  Biography,” 
Vol.  iv.,  p.  121. 

22  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  viii., 
chap,  lviii.,  pp.  276  to  282. 

23  See  William  Edward  Hartpole 
Lecky’s  “  History  of  England  in  the 
Eighteenth  Century,”  Vol.  iii.,  chap, 
xii.,  p.  460. 

24  See  “  The  Writings  of  George 
Washington ;  being  his  Correspond¬ 
ence,  Addresses,  Messages,  and  other 
Papers,  Official  and  Private.”  Se¬ 
lected  and  published  from  the  original 
Manuscripts ;  with  a  Life  of  the 
Author,  Notes  and  Illustrations. 
Edited  by  Jared  Sparks,  Vol.  iii., 
pp.  221,  222.  Boston,  12  vols.  8vo. 

25  Colonel  Michael  Cresup,  an  Irish- 
American,  marched  from  Maryland  to 
Boston,  in  1775,  to  join  the  Conti¬ 
nental  army  under  Washington.  He 
died  of  sickness  contracted  in  the  ser¬ 
vice  of  his  country. 


PREPARATIONS  IN  ENGLAND  TO  CRUSH  THE  REBELLION.  187 


Meantime,  it  being  found  necessary  for  the  successful  prosecution 
of  the  war  to  organize  regularly  enlisted  and  equipped  soldiers  for 
Washington,  Congress  employed  the  years  1775  and  1776  in  that 
effort.  Commissions  were  given  to  trusted  and  brave  officers  for  the 
purpose  of  raising  regiments.  Especially  in  Pennsylvania — most  densely 
populated  by  Irish  and  their  descendants  at  the  time  of  the  Revolution — 
those  officers  were  eminently  successful.  An  almost  exclusively  Irish  or 
Irish- American  Brigade  was  there  recruited,  and  the  soldiers  were  after¬ 
wards  designated  the  Pennsylvania  Line.26  These  were  among  the  best 
troops  that  had  been  embodied  for  service  under  Washington,  as  they 
were  ever  ready,  faithful  and  reliable  in  action.27  The  first  soldiers 
recruited  in  Pennsylvania — as  ordered  by  the  Continental  Congress — 
formed  a  battalion  of  eight  companies,  under  William  Thompson,28  who 
was  appointed  Colonel,  and  they  arrived  in  the  camp  before  Boston, 
August  14th  1775.  Attached  to  his  command  was  the  distinguished 
officer,  afterwards  Brigadier-General  Hand.29  As  one  of  the  provincial 
deputies  to  consider  the  relations  between  Great  Britain  and  her  colonies, 
the  celebrated  hero,  Anthony  Wayne,39  afterwards  became  a  member  of 


26  Although  comparatively  restricted 
in  numbers  at  this  period,  yet  some 
thousands  of  Irish  Catholics  had 
settled,  especially  in  Pennsylvania, 
Maryland  and  Virginia.  On  the 
subsequent  election  of  Washington  to 
the  Presidency,  the  Catholic  soldiers 
who  had  served  under  him  presented 
an  Address,  to  which  he  returned  a 
courteous  and  remarkable  reply. 

27  Richard  Butler,  who  came  with 
his  parents  from  Ireland  before  1750, 
became  Lieutenant-Colonel  in  the 
Pennsylvania  Line  at  the  beginning  of 
the  Revolutionary  War,  and  he  after¬ 
wards  served  with  great  distinction 
on  many  subsequent  occasions.  At 
the  close  of  the  war,  he  held  the  rank 
of  Colonel  in  the  Ninth  Pennsylvania 
Regiment.  His  brother  William  was 
Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Fourth 
Pennsylvania  Regiment,  and  in  Oct. 
1788,  he  conducted  an  expedition 
from  Schoharie  to  destroy  the  Indian 
settlements  of  Unadilla  and  Anaguaga. 

28  He  was  born  in  Ireland  about 
1725,  and  having  emigrated  to  Penn¬ 
sylvania,  he  took  part  in  the  French 
and  Indian  wars.  On  the  1st  of  March 
1776,  he  was  appointed  Brigadier- 
General,  and  on  the  19th  of  that 
month,  he  relieved  General  Charles 
Lee  from  the  command  of  the  New 
York  force.  Afterwards,  he  was 
ordered  to  Canada,  and  when  General 


John  Thomas  fell  sick  at  the  river 
Sorel,  he  assumed  the  chief  command 
of  the  American  army,  until  General 
John  Sullivan  arrived  on  the  4th  of 
June  1776.  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclo¬ 
paedia  of  American  Biography,’*  Vol. 
vi.,  p.  95. 

29  He  was  born  in  Clyduff,  King’s 
County,  Ireland.  In  1774  he  ac¬ 
companied  the  18th  Royal  Irish  Regi¬ 
ment  to  America  as  surgeon’s  mate. 
Afterwards,  he  resigned  that  appoint¬ 
ment  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  in 
the  practice  of  medicine.  Early  in  the 
Revolutionary  War,  he  joined  General 
William  Thompson’s  Brigade  as  Lieu¬ 
tenant-Colonel,  and  he  served  at  the 
siege  of  Boston.  Afterwards,  he  was 
promoted  to  be  Colonel  in  1776.  He 
was  engaged  in  the  battles  on  Long 
Island  and  at  Trenton.  In  1777,  he 
was  appointed  Brigadier-General.  Full 
of  courage  and  daring,  he  was  ad¬ 
mired  in  the  army  for  his  soldier-like 
mien  and  fine  horsemanship.  He  ser¬ 
ved  bravely  throughout  the  war,  and 
afterwards  he  became  a  member  of 
Congress  in  1784-85.  He  died  in 
Rockford,  Lancaster  County*  Pennsyl¬ 
vania,  September  3rd  1808.  See 
Ibid.,  Vol.  iii.,  pp.  74,  75. 

30  Owing  to  his  desparate  valour, 
he  went  by  the  designation  of  “  Mad 
Anthony,”  among  the  American  sol¬ 
diers. 


188  IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

the  Pennsylvania  Convention,  which  was  held  in  Philadelphia.  The 
grandfather  of  Anthony  Wayne  served  under  King  William 
III.,  and  commanded  a  body  of  dragoons  at  the  Battle  of  the  Boyne. 
Subsequently  he  lived  in  the  County  of  Wicklow,  Ireland ;  but  he 
sold  out  his  property  there,  and  afterwards  went  to  Chester  County, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  settled.  His  youngest  son  was  called  Isaac, 
who  became  a  farmer  and  a  legislator,  while  he  served  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Indian  wars.  Anthony  was  the  only  son  of  Isaac,  and  he  was  born 
in  East  Town,  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  1st  of  January 
1745.  Wherefore,  he  was  said  to  have  been  “  the  best  New  Year’s  gift 
America  could  have  received.”  He  was  educated  at  the  Philadelphia 
Academy,  and  afterwards  he  became  a  land  surveyor.  He  raised  the 
Fourth  Regiment  of  Pennsylvania  troops.31  Having  been  Aide-de-Camp 
to  Washington  and  Quarter-Master,  Stephen  Moylan32  was  zealously  en¬ 
gaged  in  recruiting  cavalry  for  the  war.  These  were  mostly  drawn 
from  Philadelphia,  as  also  from  Ulster,  Rockbridge  and  Chester  Counties. 
To  him  was  given  command  of  the  First  Pennsylvania  Regiment  of 
Dragoons,  and  these  subsequently  bore  his  name.  From  the  very 
beginning  to  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  they  participated  in  every 
engagement  where  cavalry  could  operate.  William  Irvine33  became 
Colonel  of  the  Sixth  Regiment  of  the  Pennsylvania  Line,  on  the 
10th  of  January  1776,  and  having  raised  the  Regiment  himself,  they 
were  ordered  to  Canada.  There  with  General  William  Thompson  an 
attempt  was  made  to  surprise  the  vanguard  of  the  English  Army  at 
Three  Rivers,  on  the  16th  of  June  1776.  His  brother  Andrew  served 
as  Captain  in  that  Canadian  expedition.34  Walter  Stewart 35  raised  a 


41  Over  these  he  was  commissioned 
as  Co’onel,  January  3rd  1776,  having 
been  directed  to  re-inforce  the  North¬ 
ern  Army  under  General  John  Thomas. 
Here  he  first  gave  proof  of  that  indo¬ 
mitable  courage,  which  distinguished 
him  through  all  his  subsequent 
brilliant  career.  He  died  in  Presque 
Isle,  now  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  Decem¬ 
ber  15th  1796.  See  John  Arm¬ 
strong’s  “  Life  of  Anthony  Wayne,” 
in  Sparks’  “American  Biography.’’ 

32  He  was  a  native  of  Cork,  Ire¬ 
land,  and  born  in  1734.  He  received 
a  good  education,  and  having  resided 
for  a  time  in  England,  he  afterwards 
visited  America,  where  he  settled  as  a 
merchant  in  Philadelphia.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  to  enlist  in  the  cause 
of  the  Colonies,  and  to  join  the  army 
before  Boston  in  1775. 

33  He  was  born  near  Enniskillen, 
Ireland,  on  the  3rd  of  November 
1741,  and  he  graduated  in  the  Dublin 
University.  Having  embraced  the 
Medical  Profession,  he  served  during 


the  war  between  England  and  France, 
1756-’63.  He  emigrated  to  America, 
and  in  1764  he  settled  at  Carlisle  in 
Pennsylvania  as  Doctor  of  Medicine. 
At  the  opening  of  the  Revolution, 
he  became  a  member  of  the  Provincial 
Convention,  that  assembled  at  Phila¬ 
delphia,  July  15th  1774,  and  he  then 
recommended  the  assemb  ing  of  a 
General  Congress.  On  May  12th 
1779,  he  was  made  Brigadier  General. 
He  died  at  Philadelphia,  July  29th 
1804.  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia 
of  American  Biography,”  Vol.  iii., 
p.  358. 

34  Another  brother  Matthew  was 
a  Physician  and  Surgeon  in  General 
Lee’s  division,  while  Brigadier-Gene¬ 
ral  Irvine  had  three  sons,  Callendar, 
William  and  Armstrong,  all  of  whom 
embraced  a  military  career.  They 
served  as  officers  in  the  war  of  1812, 
between  Great  Britain  and  the  United 
States.  See  Ibid. 

35  He  was  born  in  Ireland,  about 
1756,  and  afterwards  he  emigrated  to. 


THE  SIEGE  AND  TAKING  OF  BOSTON. 


189 


company  for  the  Third  Pennsylvania  Battalion,  and  he  was  commissioned 
a  Captain  on  the  6th  of  January  1776.  Under  the  command  of 
Morgan,  five  hundred  Virginian  Riflemen — numbers  of  these  being  Irish 
or  Irish-Americans — marched  on  foot  to  Boston.  The  Clintons  in  New 
York  raised  some  regiments,  largely  composed  of  Irish  and  Irish- 
Americans,  and  these  were  early  in  the  field. 

During  the  spring,  munitions  of  war  and  considerable  reinforce¬ 
ments  reached  the  camp,  to  enable  Washington  the  better  to  carry  out 
those  orders  he  had  received  from  Congress.  By  setting  up  batteries 
on  Dorchester  heights,  that  general  was  sure  to  command  the  town,  the 
harbour  and  the  roadstead.  Henry  Knox  directed  that  artillery,  which 
he  had  previously  captured.36  The  resolves  and  preparations  of 
General  Howe  were  so  dilatory,  that  nothing  favourable  to  the 
imprisoned  garrison  resulted ;  although  were  he  at  all  enterprising, 
the  well-appointed  and  disciplined  forces  under  his  command  should 
have  been  more  than  sufficient  to  drive  the  ill-organized  provincials 
from  their  positions.  Notwithstanding  his  large  garrison,  and  the 
protecting  fleet,  those  labours  of  the  Americans  were  observed  by  the 
English  general  with  alarm.  He  saw  clearly,  that  if  they  succeeded  in 
planting  cannon  on  that  elevated  position,  his  army  must  quit  the  town. 
In  the  deepest  silence,  the  American  army  took  possession  of  Dorchester 
Hill,  and  there  they  began  noiselessly  yet  energetically  to  dig  entrench¬ 
ments.  They  were  aware,  also,  that  everything  depended  upon  ex¬ 
pedition.  Meantime,  the  American  works  were  advancing  with  giant 
strides  ;  and  accordingly,  on  the  night  of  March  4th,  a  body  of  2,000 
men  under  General  Thomas  took  possession  of  those  lines  on  the 
heights.  The  besiegers  had  chained  together  hogsheads  filled  with 
stones,  and  were  ready  to  roll  them  down  on  the  heads  of  any  assailing 
column  that  might  venture  an  attack.37  They  were  favoured  also  by  a 
storm,  which  raged  with  such  fury  as  to  paralyse  the  English  general’s 
movements,  without  in  the  least  embarrassing  them.  Before  it  cleared 
away,  and  when  the  sky  became  serene,  the  batteries  defied  attack.  Their 
guns,  now  brought  into  position  and  turned  upon  the  town,  could  sink 
the  shipping  and  reduce  the  habitations  to  ruins.  However,  Howe 
called  a  council  of  war,  when  it  was  proposed  to  place  2,400  men  under 


America.  He  was  appointed  Aide- 
de  Camp  to  General  Gates  on  the  26th 
of  May  1776,  and  he  served  in  that 
capacity  until  the  17th  of  June  1777, 
when  he  received  a  commission  as 
Colonel  of  the  Pennsylvania  State 
Regiment  of  Foot.  This  he  led  with 
great  bravery,  at  the  battles  of 
Brandywine  and  Germantown.  He 
was  said  to  have  been  the  handsomest 
man  in  the  American  army,  and  he 
served  with  gr^at  credit  throughout 
the  war,  until  he  retired  on  the  1st 
of  January  1783,  with  the  brevet 


rank  of  Brigadier- General.  After¬ 

wards,  he  became  a  merchant  of 
Philadelphia,  and  he  was  appointed 
Major-General  of  the  State  Militia. 
He  died  in  Philadelphia,  June  14th 
1796.  See  Ibid.  Vol.  v.,  p.  687. 

36  In  this  capacity,  as  chief  of  the 
artillery,  he  afterwards  figured,  tak¬ 
ing  part  in  all  the  principal  battles 
fought  by  Washington. 

37  See  John  Adolphus’  “  History  of 
England  from  the  Accession  of  King 
George  the  Third.”  &c.  Vol  ii., 
chap,  xxix.,  p.  388. 


190  IRISH-AMERiCAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

the  command  of  Lord  Percy,  who  showed  no  heart  for  the  effort  to 
dislodge  the  Americans,  and  which  attempt  the  general  himself  had  de¬ 
clared  to  be  hazardous.  That  enterprise  was  abandoned,  and  orders 
were  next  issued  for  the  evacuation  of  Boston,  to  the  horror  and  despair 
of  the  loyalists,  who  had  fled  there  for  refuge,  and  over  confident  in  the 
power  of  England  to  project  them.38 

After  a  vain  effort  to  treat  with  Washington,  Boston  was  surrendered 
unconditionally  to  the  Americans.39  On  St.  Patrick’s  Day,40  great  was 
the  rejoicing  of  the  Irish  41  in  Washington’s  army,  to  witness  General 
Howe  with  his  whole  army  disembarking.  He  took  on  board  the  fleet 
fifteen  hundred  Tory  inhabitants  of  Boston.  Having  disembarked  the 
last  of  his  troops,  General  Howe  quitted  Boston,  and  sailed  for  Halifax.42 
The  English  had  barely  departed,  when  the  Americans  poured  in,  and 
took  possession  of  the  town.  Congress  had  been  so  pleased  with  thi3 
event,  that  a  gold  medal  was  struck,  and  Washington  was  publicly 
thanked.43  The  news  of  taking  Boston  was  misrepresented  in  England, 
as  having  been  a  voluntary  evacuation  of  the  garrison  for  want  of 
provisions ;  while  the  Ministry  gave  out  a  report,44  that  Howe  had 
orders  to  leave  the  town,  so  that  he  might  succour  Halifax,  which  was 
then  said  to  have  been  threatened.45 

Meantime,  an  overwhelming  force,  consisting  for  the  most  part  of 
mercenary  Germans,  had  embarked  for  the  theatre  of  hostilities. 
While  the  provincials  were  encamped  before  Boston,  some  detach¬ 
ments  had  been  sent  to  recruit  the  small  army  engaged  in  the  blockade 
of  Quebec,  as  no  reasonable  chance  was  afforded  of  carrying  it  by 
assault.  However,  the  arrival  of  reinforcements  from  Ireland  and  Eng¬ 
land  for  the  garrison  of  Quebec  in  June  1776,  when  the  navigation 
of  the  St.  Lawrence  opened,  obliged  the  Americans  to  desist  from 
a  further  hopeless  enterprise.  The  regiments  from  Ireland  with 
General  Burgoyne,  and  the  first  division  of  Brunswick  troops, 
had  now  raised  Carleton’s  army  to  13,000  well  disciplined  men,45 


33  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  viii. , 
chap,  lix.,  pp.  291  to  299. 

39  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  Wash¬ 
ington,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  viii.,  p.  174. 

40  It  is  remarkable,  that  Washing¬ 
ton  issued  the  following  General  Order, 
in  compliment  to  the  Irishmen  then 
serving  in  his  army  : 

“Headquarters,  17th  March,  1776. 

Countersign,  ‘ST.  PATRICK.' 
“Parole,  BOSTON.' 

“  The  regiments  under  marching 
orders  to  march  to-morrow  morning. 
Brigadier  of  the  Day,  General  Sullivan. 
By  his  Excellency’s  Command.” 

41  Samuel  Brady,  an  Irishman,  was 
at  the  siege  of  Boston.  He  became  a 
lieutenant  at  the  massacre  of  Paoli, 


and  in  1779,  1780,  1781,  he  was  Cap¬ 
tain  over  a  Company  of  Hangers. 
Afterwards  he  became  a  Colonel. 

44  See  Lord  Mahon’s  ‘'History  of 
England  from  the  Peace  of  Utrecht,” 
Vol.  vi.,  chap,  liii.,  pp.  126,  127. 

43  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  viii., 
chap,  lix.,  p.  304. 

44  This  statement  appeared  in  the 
ministerial  Gazette  of  that  time. 

45  See  Horace  Walpole’s  “Journal 
of  the  Reign  of  King  George  the 
Third,  from  1771  to  1783,”  Vol.  ii., 
pp.  32,  33. 

46  See  John  Adolphus’  "History  of 
England  from  the  Accession  of  King 
George  the  Third,”  &c.,  Vol.  ii. ,  chap, 
xxix.,  p.  391. 


-2. 


ARRIVAL  OK  BRITISH  1HOOKS  AND  FOREIGN  AUXILIARIES.  191 


abundantly  supplied  with  all  the  necessaries  for  war.  The  retreat 
from  Quebec  was  full  of  peril ;  but,  as  Major-General  John  Suliivan 
then  took  command,  he  ably  conducted  the  Federal  troops  after  the 
fall  of  Montgomery.47  On  the  5th  of  June  he  arrived  at  Sorel,  and 
there  a  council  of  war  resolved  on  an  attempt  against  the  enemy  at 
Three  Rivers.  A  party  of  about  1,500,  headed  by  St.  Clair,48  Wayne  and 
Irvine,  was  placed  under  the  command  of  Thompson.  He  crossed  the 
St.  Lawrence,  intending  to  surprise  the  British  ;  but,  outnumbered  more 
than  three  to  one,  after  a  gallant  attack  the  Americans  were  forced  to 
retreat,  with  a  loss  exceeding  two  hundred.  At  Chambly,  all  the  boats 
and  baggage  were  brought  over  the  rapids,  and  Arnold  passed  from 
Montreal  to  La  Prairie.  On  the  17th  of  June,  the  Americans  retired  on 
St.  John’s,  and  the  day  following  arrived  at  Isle-aux-Nois,  where 
Sullivan  proposed  to  wait  express  orders  from  General  Schuyler.  There 
they  remained  for  eight  days,  languidly  pursued  by  a  column  under 
Burgoyne.  In  a  wretched  condition,  they  reached  Crown  Point  early 
in  July.  Their  only  food  was  raw  pork  and  unbaked  Hour  for  days 
together.  Of  about  5,000  men,  housed  under  tents  or  huts  of  brick, 
fully  one-half  were  invalids;  while  in  a  little  over  two  months,  the 
Northern  army  lost  by  death  and  desertion  more  than  1,000  men.49 

A  powerful  fleet  under  Admiral  Lord  Howe  had  been  equipped, 
while  a  formidable  land  force  under  his  brother  General  Sir  William 
Howe  was  now  destined  for  New  York.  The  colonists  were  declared  to 
be  rebels,  and  their  property  was  liable  to  seizure  on  sea.  During  this 
year  also,  a  large  British  squadron  had  been  fitted  out  in  England  under 
the  command  of  Admiral  Sir  Peter  Parker,  as  likewise  a  numerous  and 
well  appointed  land  force  commanded  by  Lord  Cornwallis.  The  great 
design  contemplated  was  to  land  and  capture  New  York,  to  secure  the 
line  of  the  Hudson  River,  and  to  cut  off  New  England  from  the  other 
states.  Moreover,  Sir  Guy  Carleton  was  to  co-operate  from  Canada, 
by  leading  an  expedition  against  the  Americans  on  Lake  Champlain. 

Having  placed  Boston  in  a  state  for  defence,  Washington  hastened 
to  New  York,  where  he  arrived  on  the  13th  of  April.  Lee  was  then 
despatched  southwards,  to  command  the  troops  there  assembled. 
Measures  were  also  taken,  to  disarm  the  Tory  inhabitants,  and  to 
throw  up  various  fortifications.  For  the  defence  of  New  York, 
General  Greene  was  placed  over  a  division  on  Long  Island.  Anticipating 
the  English  expedition  and  its  destination,  Washington’s  presence 
was  there  required.  He  occupied  New  York  and  the  places 
around  it  with  27,000  men.50  The  leaden  statue  of  George  III.  was 


47  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  viii. , 
chap.  Ixvii.,  pp.  415  to  433. 

48  Lieutenant  James  Montgomery, 
Irish  born,  and  of  the  Pennsylvania 
line,  entered  St.  Clair’s  army  early  in 
1776,  and  he  served  with  credit  dur¬ 
ing  the  war.' 


49  See  Judge  Marshall’s  “Life  of 
General  Washington,”  Vol.  ii. ,  chap, 
v.,  pp.  304  to  369.  London  edition 
of  1804  et  seq.  4to. 

50  Washington’s  Life  Guard  was 
formed  in  1776,  soon  after  the  siege  of 
Boston,  and  when  the  American  army 
was  encamped  on  Manhattan  Island, 


103  IRISH-AMEIUCAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

pulled  down  in  Bowling  Green,  and  the  Provincials  melted  it  into 
bullets.51  Recruiting  proceeded  rapidly  meanwhile  in  the  various 
States,  and  foremost  in  activity  among  these  was  Pennsylvania. 

The  British  fleet  under  Sir  Peter  Parker,  and  a  large  land  force 
under  General  Clinton,  had  now  planned  an  attack  on  Charleston,  in 
South  Carolina,  However,  before  the  British  fleet  arrived  in  Cape  Fear 
River,  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  local  military  forces  John  Rut¬ 
ledge,62  had  fortified  Charleston,  while  he  insisted  on  retaining  Sullivan’s 
Island,  when  General  Lee  proposed  its  evacuation.53  Moreover,  deem¬ 
ing  it  all  important  for  the  defence  of  Charleston,  Rutledge  had  ordered 
that  it  should  be  defended  to  the  last  extremity.  The  fort,  constructed 
chiefly  of  palmetto  trees,  was  then  in  an  unfinished  state.  Meantime, 
he  had  mustered  a  considerable  force  for  the  reception  of  an  anticipated 
assault  on  the  town  itself.  At  an  early  hour  on  the  morning  of  J une 
28th,  Sir  Peter  Parker  opened  fire,  and  he  continued  the  bombardment 
for  nine  hours,  but  without  making  any  serious  impression  on  the  fort — 
which  was  still  incomplete — yet  suffering  great  loss  himself  from  the 
batteries  on  Sullivan’s  Island.  That  outpost  was  gallantly  held  by 
Colonel  Moultrie  for  the  Americans.  At  length,  that  attack  was 
repulsed  by  the  Provincials,  with  the  small  loss  of  24  men,  while  225 
was  the  estimated  loss  of  the  British.  After  this  repulse,  Admiral 
Parker  sailed  immediately  for  New  York. 

The  British  vessels  of  war  had  attacked  many  of  the  exposed  sea¬ 
port  towns.64  Much  damage  was  thus  inflicted.55  Finding  it  absolutely 
necessary  to  make  some  provision  for  the  protection  of  American  ports 
and  vessels  from  the  enemy,  Congress  purchased  a  few  merchant  ships. 
They  appointed  an  experienced  and  a  resolute  Irish  sea-captain  John 
Barry  50  to  fit  them  out  as  war -vessels.  This  duty  he  cheerfully  under¬ 


near  the  City  of  New  York.  It  con¬ 
sisted  of  a  major’s  command,  one 
hundred  and  eighty  men.  The  terms 
of  enlistment  into  the  guard  were  the 
same  as  those  in  any  other  corps  of 
the  regular  army,  except  in  the  matter 
of  qualification.  These  soldiers  were 
selected  with  special  reference  to  their 
physical,  moral  and  intellectual 
character,  and  it  was  considered  a 
mark  of  peculiar  distinction  to  belong 
to  the  Commander-in-Chief’s  guard. 

51  See  Horace  Walpole’s  “Journal 
of  the  Reign  of  King  George  the 
Third,  from  the  year  1771  to  1783,” 
Vol.  ii.,  p.  68. 

52  Eldest  son  of  Dr.  John  Rutledge, 
who  was  born  in  the  north  of  Ireland, 
and  brother  to  Edward  Rutledge, 
signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independ¬ 
ence. 

53  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  v.,  p.  367. 


54  See  James  Eenimore  Cooper’s 
“History  of  the  Navy  of  the  United 
States  of  America,”  Vol.  i.  This 
elaborate  work  first  appeared  in  1839, 

8vc. 

65  In  retaliation  for  the  exploits  of 
Jeremiah  O’Brien,  Admiral  Graves 
sent  an  expedition  to  burn  Falmouth 
— now  Portland — in  Maine.  See  Loss- 
ing’s  Field  Book  of  the  Revolution,” 
Vol.  ii.,  p.  637. 

56  He  was  born  in  Tacumshane,  on 
the  sea-coast  of  Wexford  County,  in 
1745 ;  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  he 
entered  a  merchantman  which  sailed 
between  Philadelphia  and  the  British 
ports.  At  the  age  of  sixteen,  he 
made  America  his  home,  and  in  his 
twenty-fifth  year,  he  commanded  the 
Black  Prince,  the  finest  packet  on  the 
Atlantic,  and  owned  by  a  Mr.  Mere¬ 
dith  of  Philadelphia.  About  thi* 
time,  he  made  the  acquaintance  of 


DEBATES  BEFORE  THE  DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE. 


193 


took,  and  soon  he  was  in  a  position  to  command.  He  was  assigned  to 
the  Lexington  of  16  guns,  in  Febiuary,  1776.  With  this  he  seized  an 
armed  tender,  the  Edward,  and  this  result  was  hailed  with  great  joy  ;  it 
being  the  first  considerable  English  war-vessel  captured  by  an  American 
cruiser.57  At  this  time,  too,  Congress  had  ordered  the  building  of  a  war 
frigate  at  Philadelphia,  which  was  destined  for  him.  On  the  23rd  of 
October  1775,  Thomas  Reid  5S  was  appointed  the  first  commodore  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Navy,  and  while  holding  this  command  he  made  a  most 
successful  defence  of  the  Delaware.  On  the  7th  of  June  1776,  he  was 
appointed  to  the  highest  grade  in  the  Continental  Navy,  and  he  was 
assigned  to  one  of  its  four  largest  ships,  the  32  gun  frigate  then  build¬ 
ing  on  the  Delaware  River,  and  named  the  George  Washington.59  We 
find  it  recorded  likewise,  that  Richard  O’Brien,  an  Irishman,  was  a 
successful  privateer  during  the  Revolution  60 

While  the  war  had  thus  begun,  public  opinion  was  greatly  agitated 
and  divided,  so  that  when  Congress  opened  in  June,  unanimity  did  not 
prevail  in  its  councils.  Many  of  the  representatives  hoped  for  a  recon¬ 
ciliation  with  the  mother  country;  but  it  seemed  to  most,  matters  had 
already  proceeded  so  far,  that  there  was  room  neither  for  compromise 
nor  conciliation.  At  first,  the  idea  of  separation  had  not  been  generally 
entertained,  and  it  was  thought  the  British  ministry  would  make  reason¬ 
able  concessions.  The  delegates  from  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey  and 
Maryland  61  were  instructed  to  observe  a  cautious  policy  by  their  respec¬ 
tive  Assemblies. 

While  general  instructions  had  been  given  to  the  delegates  of 
Massachusetts  in  January,  by  South  Carolina  in  March,  and  by 
Georgia  in  April,  to  adopt  a  bolder  course,  North  Carolina  was  the 
first  to  direct  her  representatives  in  Congress,  to  declare  for  independ¬ 
ence  on  the  12th  of  April.  A  few  days  later,  Massachusetts  and 
Rhode  Island  renounced  their  allegiance  to  King  George  Til.,  and 


General  Washington,  who  greatly  ad¬ 
mired  his  courage,  skill  and  coolness. 
At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolu¬ 
tionary  War,  Barry  promptly  offered 
his  services  to  Congress,  and  they 
were  as  readily  accepted.  He  died 
in  Philadelphia,  on  the  13th  of  Sep., 
1803.  See  Alfred  Webb’s  “  Compend¬ 
ium  of  Irish  Biography,”  p.  13.  Also 
a  very  complete  memoir  of  him  is  to 
be  found  in  “  Records  of  the  Ameri¬ 
can  Catholic  Historical  Society  of 
Philadelphia.”  Yol.  vi.  The  First 
Volume  of  this  work  was  published 
in  Philadelphia,  1887,  8vo. 

57  See  Leslie  Stephen’s  “  Dictionary 
of  National  Biography,”  Vol.  iii. ,  p. 
325. 

58  His  father  was  John  Reid,  born 
in  Dublin,  and  he  was  brother  to 


George  Reid,  signer  of  the  Declara¬ 
tion  of  Independence. 

59  While  waiting  for  the  completion 
of  his  ship,  Reid  volunteered  for  land 
service  and  served  under  Washington. 
See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of  Ameri¬ 
can  Biography,”  Vol.  v.,  p.  198. 

60  Subsequently,  he  was  distinguished 
as  a  naval  officer,  in  the  regular 
service.  Afterwards,  he  was  appoint¬ 
ed  Consul-General  of  the  United 
States  for  Barbary. 

6 'Towards  the  latter  end  of  May, 
by  a  resolution,  the  Convention  of 
Maryland  positively  forbade  their 
delegates  to  vote  for  Independence. 
See  Benson  J.  Lossing’s  “  Pictorial 
Field  Book  of  the  American  Revolu¬ 
tion,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  xi.,  pp.  271  to 
289. 


o 


194 


IRISII-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OK  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


on  the  10th  of  May,  John  Adams  carried  a  resolution  in  Congress, 
requesting  each  of  the  United  Colonies  to  set  up  a  separate  govern¬ 
ment  on  its  own  responsibility.  On  the  15th  of  May,  the  Virginia 
delegates  were  instructed  by  their  Convention  to  declare  for  inde¬ 
pendence  in  Congress,  while  a  circular  letter  was  addressed  to  other 
Colonies,  to  apprise  them  of  such  a  proceeding,  and  to  urge  their  co¬ 
operation.62  On  the  very  same  day,  Congress  decided,  that  all  autho¬ 
rity  under  the  Crown  should  be  suppressed,  and  that  all  governmental 
powers  then  vested  in  the  people  of  the  Colonies.  Soon  afterwards, 
the  people  of  Massachusetts  declared  themselves  in  favour  of  separation 
from  the  mother  country,  and  the  feeling  in  due  course  became  almost 
universal  throughout  the  other  Colonies.  His  State  of  Virginia  had 
given  its  delegate  Richard  Henry  Lee  power  to  propose  a  Declara¬ 
tion  of  Independence,  and  he  was  bold  enough  to  do  it,  on  the  7th  of 
June.  In  a  determined  mannner,  ;  nd  in  a  clear  and  ringing  voice,  he 
read  aloud  the  resolution:  “That  hese  United  Colonies  are,  and  ought 
to  be,  free  and  independent  State.* ;  that  they  are  absolved  from  all 
allegiance  to  the  British  Crown  ;  and  that  all  political  connection  be¬ 
tween  them  and  the  State  of  Gieat  Britain  is,  and  ought  to  be,  totally 
dissolved.”  A  death-like  silence  pervaded  the  whole  Assembly.  John 
Adams  then  rose  and  immediately  he  seconded  that  resolution.  How 
ever,  this  momentous  issue  was  debated  in  secret.  Besides  Lee,  John 
and  Samuel  Adams,  Edward  Rutledge  and  Dr.  Witherspoon  were  the 
chief  speakers  in  its  favour.  The  bold  step  taken  by  Lee  was  then 
supposed  by  some  to  have  been  rash  and  premature.  The  chief  oppo¬ 
nent  of  independence  was  John  Dickinson  of  Pennsylvania,63  who 
spoke  strongly  against  it.  To  shield  them  from  the  vengeance  of  the 
British  Government,  seme  waverers  directed  the  Congressional  Secre¬ 
tary  to  omit  the  names  of  the  mover  and  seconder  of  that  resolution 
from  the  journals.  Its  further  consideration  was  deferred  until  tho 
next  morning.  The  delegates  met,  accordingly,  but  the  question  was 
again  adjourned  until  the  first  of  July. 

Meanwhile,  it  was  resolved,  “that  no  time  be  lost,  in  case  Congress* 
agrees  thereto,  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  prepars  a  declaration 
to  that  effect.”  Accordingly,  the  resolution  was  referred  to  a  committee 
consisting  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  John  Adams,  Benjamin  Franklin,  Roger 
Sherman  and  Robert  R.  Livingston.  These  after  some  deliberation 
prepared  a  draft,  setting  forth  a  Declaration  of  Independence.  From 
the  first,  it  was  apparent,  that  a  majority  of  the  Colonies  would  vote 
for  Independence,  but  it  was  doubtful  if  an  unanimous  vote  could  be 
obtained.  Two  Assemblies  had  already  refused  to  sanction  the  measure, 
Maryland64  and  Pennsylvania  ;  while  New  York,  South  Carolina  and 


62  This  was  carried  mainly  through 
the  exertions  of  Irish- Americans  in 
opposition  to  the  Quakers,  who  on 
principle  desired  peace. 

63  See  William  Edward  Hartpole 


Lecky’s  “  History  of  England  in  the 
Eighteenth  Century,”  Vol.  iii.,  chap, 
xii.  p.  460. 

64  Through  the  exertions  and  great 
influence  of  Charles  Carroll  and 


declaration  op  independence. 


195 


Georgia  were  silent.  On  Thomas  Jefferson  devolved  the  honour  of 
drawing  up  a  draft  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  this  was  sub¬ 
mitted  to  Congress,  on  the  28th  of  June.  When  a  vote  was  taken  by 
a  committee  of  the  whole  House,  all  the  Colonies  assented  to  the  De¬ 
claration,  except  Pennsylvania  and  Delaware ;  four 05  of  the  seven 
delegates  of  the  former  voting  against  it,  and  the  two  delegates  who 
were  present  from  Delaware  being  divided.66 

Letters  had  been  received  from  Washington,  which  gave  a  deplo¬ 
rable  account  of  the  state  his  army  was  in,  with  the  alarming  intelli¬ 
gence  of  a  large  British  expedition  which  he  expected  soon  to  land. 
The  fleet  of  England  had  now  anchored  in  the  bay  of  New  York, 
while  her  army  of  20,000  veterans  was  within  three  days’  march  of 
that  very  spot  where  the  Congress  had  assembled. 

On  the  4th  day  of  July  in  Independence  Hall,  the  Declaration 
of.  Independence  was  taken  up  for  the  final  decision.  The  debate 
which  ensued  was  long  and  animated.  67  Pennsylvania  had  not  voted 
in  favour  of  the  measure.  Some  of  her  delegates  were  in  opposition.. 
However,  Franklin,  Wilson  and  Morton  were  in  its  favour.  On  this- 
eventful  day,  Robert  Morris  and  John  Dickinson  were  absent. 
Thomas  Willing  and  Charles  Humphreys  were  opposed  to  it.  Franklin 
endeavoured  to  prevail  on  his  colleagues  to  give  ail  assenting  and 
unanimous  vote.  Being  unsuccessful,  however,  it  was  at  length 
resolved  that  as  the  delegates  were  divided,  Morton  ought  officially  to 
decide  the  question,  whether  there  should  be  an  unanimous  vote  of  the 
colonies,  or  whether  Pennsylvania  should  persevere  in  her  exceptional 
opposition  to  the  measure.  The  opinions  and  determination  of  his 
colleagues  then  present  w7ere  well  known  to  Morton.  The  responsibility 
of  his  situation  was  solemn  and  momentous.  He  met  the  trying  occa¬ 
sion,  however,  with  the  firmness  it  demanded,  and  his  vote  was  cast 
in  favour  of  Independence.  Accordingly,  the  thirteen  American 
colonies  thus  renounced  their  allegiance  to  Great  Britain,  and  immediately 
the  United  States  of  America  was  assumed  to  be  their  future  title.68 


others,  the  Convention  of  Maryland 
recalled  their  former  instructions  on 
the  28th  of  June,  and  empowered 
their  delegates,  “  to  concur  with  the 
other  Colonies  in  a  Declaration  of 
Independence.” 

65  These  were  John  Dickinson, 
Robert  Morris,  Thomas  Willing  and 
Charles  Humphreys.  See  James 
Grahame’s  “  History  of  the  United 
States  of  North  America,  from  the 
Plantation  of  the  British  Colonies  till 
their  Revolt  and  Declaration  of  Inde¬ 
pendence,”  Yol.  iv.,  book  ix.,  chap  v. 

66  Thomas  McKean  favoured  it,  and 
Caesar  Rodney,  the  other  delegate,  was 
then  absent.  In  order  to  secure  his 
object,  McKean  wrote  a  note,  and 


putting  it  into  the  hands  of  a  trusty 
messenger,  he  bade  the  latter  ride 
with  all  speed  and  deliver  it  to  Rod¬ 
ney.  The  latter  was  eighty  miles 
distant  when  the  messenger  overtook 
him.  Ten  minutes  had  not  elapsed, 
after  reading  the  patriot’s  letter, 
when  he  was  in  the  saddle,  and  riding 
as  if  for  life,  Caesar  Rodney  was  on 
his  way  back  to  Philadelphia.  He 
arrived  in  time  to  give  his  vote  on 
the  4th  of  July,  and  thus  was  Dele- 
ware  secured. 

67  See  “Journal  of  the  Proceedings 
of  the  Congress  at  Philadephia,  1776. 

68  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  viii., 
chap,  lxix.,  pp.  448  to  461. 


196  IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

At  two  o’clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  Irish  born  Secretary  of  Con¬ 
gress,  Charles  Thompson,  rose  to  announce  the  decision.  09  He  was  the 
tallest  man  in  the  Assembly,  and  drawing  up  his  commanding  figure  to 
its  full  height,  while  holding  the  document  in  his  hand,  at  that  solemn 
and  interesting  moment,  he  pronounced  the  words  with  an  emphatic 
and  a  singularly  clear  voice.  Perfect  silence  reigned  throughout  the 
Congress,  until  their  secretary  sat  down,  and  soon  the  long-looked  for 
intelligence  spread  abroad. 

Meantime,  thousands  of  the  people  had  collected  in  the  streets,  for 
tidings  had  gone  forth  throughout  the  city  that  the  final  decision  was 
to  be  made  on  that  day.  As  men’s  feelings  were  strung  to  the  highest 
tension  of  anxiety  and  impatience,  so  were  their  thoughts  to  be  read  in 
their  countenances.  Already  it  had  been  rumoured,  that  should  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  be  unanimously  adopted,  the  old  bell  in 
the  tower  must  ring  out  such  announcement  to  the  people. 70  The 
multitude  without  had  long  remained  a  prey  to  conflicting  emotions. 
At  length,  the  bell  pealed  out,  when  immediatel}'  a  shout,  loud  and 
sudden,  arose  from  that  vast  assemblage.  Other  bells  in  the  city 
caught  up  the  refrain,  the  cannon  pealed,  and  hurrying  from  all  direc¬ 
tions,  the  patriots  shouted  in  the  fulness  of  their  joy.  That  night, 
from  the  Delaware  to  the  Schuylkill,  bonfires  blazed  in  every  direction. 
An  observatory  had  been  erected  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia 71  for 
astronomical  purposes.  From  this,  on  the  8th  of  July,  John  Nixon 
read  the  Declaration  to  a  large  concourse  of  people,  and  amid  a  pro¬ 
found  silence.  Thousands  from  all  parts  of  the  surrounding  country 
had  gathered  into  the  city  deeply  interested  in  that  issue,  and  after¬ 
wards  destined  further  to  participate  in  those  proceedings.  When  the 
reader  had  uttered  the  last  word,  the  people  almost  universally  gave 
vent  to  their  pent-up  feelings  in  the  wildest  applause.72  The  Tories,  on 
the  other  hand,  heard  it  with  dismay.  Thus,  having  obtained  the  vote 
of  every  Colonial  province,  their  Declaration  of  Independence  was 
finally  promulgated  and  adopted. 

Such  was  the  solemn  decree  passed  on  the  memorable  4th  of  July 


69  See  “  Journal  of  the  Proceedings 
I  of  the  Congress  at  Philadelphia, 

k  1776.” 

70  When  Congress  had  been  con¬ 
vened  early  in  the  morning,  the  old 
bellman  took  his  post  in  the  steeple. 
On  that  bell  was  written: — “Pro¬ 
claim  liberty  throughout  all  the  land 
unto  all  the  inhabitants  thereof.”  Too 
old  and  feeble  to  run  down  the  stairs, 
the  bellman  had  placed  his  boy  at 
the  door  below,  to  give  him  notice 
when  the  announcement  should  be 
made.  But  as  the  hours  passed 
slovdy  by,  and  still  no  signal  had 
been  given  to  the  impatient  watcher, 


he  grew  quite  nervous,  fearing  the 
delegates  should  falter  in  their  delib¬ 
erations. 

71  Near  the  Walnut  St.  front  of  the 
State  House. 

72  Immediately  afterwards,  abandon¬ 
ed  to  an  excess  of  patriotic  delirium, 
they  proceeded  to  the  public  buildings 
and  pulled  down  the  king’s  arms, 
which  they  burned  in  the  streets. 
Bonfires  at  night  lighted  up  the  river, 
and  the  rejoicings  were  continued 
until  midnight,  when  a  thunder  storm 
abruptly  put  an  end  to  those  festivi¬ 
ties. 


NAMES  OF  THE  SIGNERS. 


197 

1776.73  It  was  first  signed  74  by  John  Hancock,  as  President  of  the 
Congress,  and  afterwards  by  those  delegates,75  representing  the  con¬ 
federated  provinces.  Of  the  fifty-six  delegates — answering  for  the 
thirteen  original  States  of  America — whose  signatures  followed,  some 
were  of  Irish  birth  or  of  Irish  extraction ;  but,  in  this  connexion,  we 
can  only  briefly  recapitulate  their  actions  and  career.76  To  the  original 
document  are  found  appended  the  order  of  the  provinces,  as  conven¬ 
tionally  arranged,77  with  the  names  of  their  respective  representatives 
attached ;  and,  these  deserve  perpetual  and  grateful  remembrance  in 
the  records  of  United  States  history.  After  their  President’s  signature, 
affixed  in  a  firm  and  fine  style  of  writing,  the  following  were  the 
immortal  signers  : — 

New  Hampshire. — Josiah  Bartlett,78  William  Whipple,79  Matthew 


Thornton.80 

73  Soon  afterwards,  John  Adams 
wrote  a  prediction — afterwards  so 
far  verified — that  the  4th  of  July 
should  be  celebrated  throughout  all 
time  by  his  posterity.  It  is  remark¬ 
able,  also,  that  on  the  anniversary  of 
this  day,  three  future  Presidents 
died;  viz: — Thomas  Jeffei'son,  John 
Adams  and  James  Munroe. 

74  The  Declaration  was  only  signed 
by  John  Hancock  on  the  day  of  its 
adoption.  It  was  ordered,  by  Con¬ 
gress  to  be  entered  at  length  on  the 
Journals.  It  was  directed,  also,  to 
be  engrossed  on  parchment  for  the 
delegates  to  sign  it. 

75  On  the  second  of  August  follow¬ 
ing,  it  was  signed  by  the  fifty-four 
delegates  present ;  it  was  subsequently 
signed  by  two  others,  making  the 
whole  number  fifty-six. 

76  See  George  Ticknor  Curtis’  “His¬ 
tory  of  the  Origin,  Formation  and 
Adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States,  with  Notices  of  its 
principal  Framers.”  This  work  was 
published  in  London,  1854,  8vo. 

77  This  was  not  done,  to  suit  the 
order  of  first  settlement  in  point  of 
date,  nor  even  as  regarded  the  de¬ 
cisions  arrived  at  in  favour  of  Inde¬ 
pendence. 

78  He  was  born  in  Amesbury,  Mass., 
21st  November  1729 ;  he  became  a 
physician ;  he  was  chosen  by  New 
Hampshire  for  the  Continental  Con¬ 
gress  on  23rd  August  1775  and  again 
on  23rd  January  1776.  He  was  the 
first  to  give  his  vote  for  the  Declara¬ 
tion  of  Independence,  and  the  second 
to  sign  it.  Subsequently,  he  was  an 


active  agent  in  the  Revolutionary 
War ;  and  at  its  close,  he  filled  several 
judicial  positions.  He  died  in  New 
Hampshire,  May  the  19th  1795. 

79  He  was  born  in  Kittery,  Me., 
14th  Jan.  1730.  In  his  earlier  years, 
he  led  a  sea-faring  life.  He  was 
elected  as  delegate  from  New  Hamp¬ 
shire  to  the  Continental  Congress  in 
1775,  and  he  was  re-elected,  23rd 
Jan.  1776.  He  afterwards  became 
a  brigadier-general,  and  served  with 
distinction  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 
He  was  appointed  Judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court  in  New  Hampshire, 
20th  of  June  1782,  and  he  died  there 
in  Portsmouth,  28th  Nov.  1785. 

80  Matthew  Thornton  designated 
“  the  honest  man,”  was  Irish  born, 
about  the  year  1714.  When  he  was 
about  three  years  old,  his  father  with 
his  family  emigrated  to  America,  and 
took  up  his  first  residence  at  Wiscas- 
set  in  Maine.  After  a  few  years'  resi¬ 
dence  there,  he  removed  to  Worcester 
in  Massachusetts.  His  son  Matthew 
embraced  the  medical  profession,  and 
began  his  career  as  a  physician  in 
Londonderry — a  town  originally  set¬ 
tled  by  Irish  colonists — in  New 
Hampshire.  He  became  a  colonel  of 
militia  there  before  the  Revolutionary 
War,  and  on  the  abdication  of  Gov¬ 
ernor  Wentworth,  who  fled  for  his 
life,  the  people  hastily  organised  a 
provincial  government.  When  Dr. 
Matthew  Thornton  had  taken  an 
active  and  a  resolute  stand  as  their 
leader,  he  was  chosen  to  be  the  Presi¬ 
dent  of  that  province.  Soon  a  gene¬ 
ral  assembly  was  convened  for  legis- 


'“'Mil 


198  IRIS  H-AM  ERICA  N  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Massachusetts  Bay. — John  Hancock,81  Samuel  Adams,81  John 
Adams,83  Robert  Treat  Paine,84  Elbridge  Gerry.85 

Rhode  Island. — Stephen  Hopkins,86  William  Ellery.87 


lative  business.  In  January  1776, 
he  was  chosen  speaker  of  the  house. 
Afterwards,  September  12th,  he  was 
elected  delegate  to  the  Continental 
Congress  for  the  term  of  one  year, 
but  he  did  not  take  his  seat  until 
November  4th.  The  vote  which 
sanctioned  the  measure  of  the  Decla¬ 
ration  of  Independence  had  been  taken 
on  the  4th  of  July  that  same  year, 
but  it  was  only  during  the  ensuing 
November  that  with  others  similarly 
circumstanced,  he  was  enabled  to  sign 
his  name  to  that  historic  document.  He 
removed  to  Exeter  in  1779,  and 
shortly  afterwards  abandoning  medi¬ 
cal  practice,  he  settled  on  a  farm  at 
Merrimack.  Afterwards,  he  became 
a  State  Senator.  He  wrote  several 
political  articles  for  the  newspapers, 
also  a  metaphysical  work  on  the  origin 
of  sin,  but  it  was  never  published. 
He  died  at  Newberry  port,  Mass., 
June  24th  1803. 

81  To  him  we  have  already  alluded, 
as  taking  a  spirited  and  an  early  part 
in  the  struggle  for  liberty. 

82  This  illustrious  leader  in  the 
Revolution  was  born  in  Boston, 
Mass.,  Sept.  27th  1722.  He  received 
an  excellent  education  at  the  Boston 
Latin  School,  and  afterwards  he 
entered  Harvard  College.  He  died  in 
Boston,  Oct.  2nd  1803.  His  Life 
has  been  written  by  W.  V.  Wells  in 
three  volumes.  Boston,  1865. 

83  He  was  born  in  Braintree,  Mass., 
October  31st  1735.  He  graduated 
at  Harvard  College  in  1755,  and  em¬ 
braced  the  legal  profession.  He  be¬ 
came  the  leader  of  that  great  revolu¬ 
tionary  movement.  During  the  war, 
his  patriotic  services  were  incalcu¬ 
lable.  Afterwards,  he  became  second 
President  of  the  United  States. 

84  He  was  born  in  Boston,  Mass., 
11th  of  March  1731.  At  first,  he 
embraced  the  clerical  profession  ;  then 
he  practised  as  a  lawyer.  He  became 


a  delegate  to  the  Provincial  Congress 
in  1774,  1775,  and  afterwards  from 
1774  to  1778,  he  served  on  various 
committees  of  the  Continental  Con¬ 
gress.  He  was  appointed  in  years 
subsequent  to  fill  various  important 
legal  offices  in  his  native  state,  until 
he  became  a  judge  of  the  Supreme 
Court.  He  died  in  Boston,  May 
11th  1814. 

85  He  was  born  in  Marblehead, 
Mass.,  17th  July  1744 ;  and  he  was 
elected  to  the  Continental  Congress, 
in  January  1776.  He  subsequently 
rendered  very  useful  services  during 
the  Revolutionary  War.  He  became 
a  staunch  upholder  of  Jeffersonian 
principles  and  of  the  Republican 
against  the  Federalist  party.  His 
partisan  redistribution  of  the  State  of 
Mass,  caused  the  well-known  term  of 
“  Gerrymander  ”  to  prevail  afterwards 
in  United  States  politics.  He  married 
Anne,  daughter  of  Charles  Thompson, 
Secretary  to  Congress,  and  afterwards 
he  became  Vice-President  of  the 
United  States,  in  1812.  He  died  in 
Washington,  D.C.,  23rd  Nov.  1814. 

86  He  was  born  in  Providence,  R.I., 
March  7th  1707,  and  followed  the 
occupation  of  a  farmer.  In  1755,  he 
became  Governor  of  that  colony.  For 
the  General  Congress  in  August  1774, 
he  was  elected  with  Samuel  Ward  to 
represent  Rhode  Island.  In  May 
1775,  he  was  elected  to  the  Second 
Congress,  and  in  the  Third  Congress, 
he  had  William  Ellery  as  his  col¬ 
league.  He  died  in  Providence,  R.I., 
July  13th  1785. 

87  He  was  bom  in  Newport  R.I., 
Dec.  22nd  1727.  He  was  a  lawyer, 
and  he  was  elected  in  May  1776,  to 
the  Continental  Congress,  when  he 
served  with  good  judgment  on  its 
various  committees,  especially  on  its 
Board  of  Admiralty.  He  died  in 
Newport,  R.I.,  February,  15th 
1820. 


NAMES  OP  THE  SIGNERS.  199 

Connecticut. — Roger  Sherman,88  Samuel  Huntington,83  William 
Williams,90  Oliver  Wolcott.91 

New  York. — William  Floyd.91  Philip  Livingston,9*  Francis  Lewis,94 
Lewis  Morris  95 

New  Jersey. —  Richard  Stockton, 96  Doctor  John  Wither- 


88  He  was  born  in  Newtown,  Mass., 
April  19th  1721,  and  he  was  appren¬ 
ticed  to  a  shoemaker,  but  by  self- 
study  he  acquired  a  knowledge  ol  the 
law.  Then  he  became  a  Judge  of 
the  Common  Pleas  in  1759,  and  after¬ 
wards  a  Judge  of  the  Superioi  Court 
of  Connecticut.  In  August  1774.  he 
was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  Con¬ 
tinental  Congress.  He  died  in.  New 
Haven,  Conn.,  July  23rd  1793. 

89  He  was  born  in  Windham,  Conn., 
July  3rd  1731,  of  humble  origin,  but 
afterwards  he  became  a  lawyer,  and 
settled  in  Norwich  He  was  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  Continental  Congress  from 
1776,  and  he  served  as  President  of 
that  body  from  28th  of  September 
1779,  to  Ju)y  6th  1781.  He  retired 
from  Congress  in  1783,  and  he  served 
as  Governor  of  Connecticut  from  1786 
until  his  death,  June  5th  1796 

90  He  was  born  in  Lebanon,  Conn., 
April  18th  1731.  He  had  a  seat  in 
the  Continental  Congress,  from  1776 
to  1777,  and  he  was  a  membei  of  the 
Council  of  Safety.  He  died  in  Le¬ 
banon,  August  2nd  1811. 

91  He  was  born  in  Windsoi  Conn., 
Nov.  26th  1726.  He  was  elected  to 
the  Second  Continental  Congress,  and 
took  his  seat  in  Jan.  1776.  During 
the  Revolutionary  War,  he  was  ap¬ 
pointed  to  organise  the  militia,  and 
oven  he  took  part  in  the  warlike 
operations.  In  1796,  he  was  chosen 
Governor  of  Connecticut,  which  office 
he  continued  to  discharge,  until  he 
died  in  Litchfield,  Conn.,  Dec.  1st 
1797. 

92  He  was  born  in  Brookhaven, 
Suffolk  County,  New  York,  Decem¬ 
ber  17th  1734.  He  was  selected  as 
delegate  to  the  Philadelphia  Congress 
of  1774,  and  again  he  was  sent  to  the 
first  Continental  Congress  of  1775. 


He  continued  to  be  a  representative 
in  every  succeeding  Congress  to  1782. 
He  died  at  Weston,  Onieda  County, 
N.Y.,  Aug.  4tb  1821. 

93  He  was  born  in  Albany,  N.Y., 
Jan.  15th  1716,  and  he  graduated  in 
Yale  College.  He  was  chosen  mem- 
bej  for  the  first  Continental  Congress 
in  1774,  and  he  continued  a  member 
tc  his  death,  which  took  place  in 
York,  Pa.,  on  the  12th  of  June  1778. 

44  He  was  born  in  Llandaff,  Wales, 
in  March  1713,  and  educated  in  West- 
minstei  School,  England.  W7hen  a 
young  man,  he  emigrated  to  America, 
and  embarked  in  trade.  He  was 
elected  a  member  ol  the  first  Conti- 
,  nental  Congress  in  1775,  and  in  1779 
he  was  appointed  Commissioner  of  the 
Board  of  Admiralty.  Afterwards,  he 
retired  into  private  life,  and  he  died 
in  New  York  city,  December  19tb 
1803 

95  He  was  a  native  of  Morrisania, 
N.Y.,  and  born  in  1726.  He  gradu¬ 
ated  at  Yale  College  in  1746.  He 
was  chosen  as  delegate  to  the  Congress 
of  1775,  and  he  served  with  distine 
tion  to  the  year  1777.  When  peace 
had  been  proclaimed,  he  repaired  to 
his  estate  which  had  been  ruined  by 
the  British  Army,  and  he  died  there, 
January  22nd  1798. 

96  He  was  born  neai  Princeton, 
N.J.,  October  1st  1730.  He  studied 
law,  and  he  visited  Great  Britain  in 
1766-7.  He  laboured  to  reconcile  the 
differences  between  the  mother  country 
and  the  Colonies  at  first,  but  when 
elected  a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  June  21st-  1776,  ht  advo¬ 
cated  Independence.  During  the  war, 
he  was  mad6  prisoner  and  his  estate 
was  mined  by  the  British.  He  ^ 
died  at  Princeton,  February  28th 
1781. 


200  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

spoon,  97  Francis  Hopkinson,  98  John  Hart,  99  Abraham 
Clarke.100 

Pennsylvania.  —  Robert  Morris,101  Benjamin  Rush,102  Ben¬ 
jamin  Franklin,103  John  Morton,104  George  Clymer,106  James 


97  He  was  born  in  Gifford,  Hadding¬ 
tonshire,  Scotland,  February  5th 
1722,  and  he  graduated  in  Edinburgh 
University  in  1742.  Afterwards,  he 
emigrated  to  America.  He  was  elected 
to  the  Continental  Congress  in  June 
1776,  and  he  served  there  until  1783. 
He  was  the  author  of  many  works. 
For  two  years  before  his  death  he 
was  blind,  and  he  departed  this  life, 
near  Princeton,  N.J.,  September  15th 
1794. 

98  He  was  born  in  Philadelphia, 
September  21st  1737,  and  he  followed 
the  legal  profession.  He  was  addicted 
to  literary  pursuits,  and  he  visited 
Ireland  and  England  in  1766.  He 
removed  to  Bordentown,  N.J.,  and 
in  June,  1776,  he  was  chosen  as  a 
representative  for  the  Continental 
Congress.  He  was  a  man  of  singu¬ 
lar  accomplishments,  and  the  author 
of  the  celebrated  national  song,  “  Hail, 
Columbia.”  He  died  May  9th  1791. 

99  He  was  born  in  Hopewell  Town¬ 
ship,  N.J.,  in  1708,  and  he  followed 
the  occupation  of  a  farmer.  He  ser¬ 
ved  in  the  Congress  1774,  1775  and 
1776.  After  his  farm  and  stock  had 
been  destroyed  by  the  Hessians,  he 
returned  home  in  1777.  He  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  life  in  agricul¬ 
tural  pursuits.  He  died  in  1780. 

100  He  was  born  in  Elizabethtown, 
N.J.,  February  15th  1726.  On  the 
21st  of  June  1776,  with  Richard 
Stockton,  Dr.  John  Witherspoon, 
Francis  Hopkinson,  and  John  Hart, 
he  was  elected  by  the  Provincial  Con¬ 
gress  to  the  Continental  Congress, 
and  instructed  if  necessary  to  declare 
for  Independence.  He  afterwards 
served  with  great  distinction  in  many 
important  civil  employments.  He 
died  in  Rahway  of  a  sun-stroke,  Sep¬ 
tember  15th  1794. 

101  He  was  born  in  Liverpool,  Eng¬ 
land,  January  20th  1734.  At  the 
age  of  thirteen,  he  emigrated  to  the 
United  States.  As  a  merchant  in 
Philadelphia  he  became  wealthy.  In 
1775,  he  was  sent  as  a  delegate  to 
the  Continental  Congress.  On  the 


4th  of  July,  he  declined  to  vote  for 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  but 
when  it  was  adopted  he  appended  his 
name.  His  commercial  credit  helped 
the  United  States  greatly,  when  in 
need  of  money.  He  died  in  Phila¬ 
delphia,  May  8th  1806. 

'^He  was  born  in  Byberry  Town¬ 
ship,  Pa.,  Dec.  24th  1745.  He  gradu¬ 
ated  in  Princeton  College  in  1760, 
and  he  embraced  the  medical  profes¬ 
sion.  He  became  very  eminent  in 
that  capacity.  He  was  elected  t<; 
the  Continental  Congress,  while  he 
was  surgeon  to  the  Pennsylvania  navy. 
In  1778,  he  resigned  his  military 
office,  and  returned  to  Philadelphia, 
where  his  medical  professorship  and 
practise  were  continued.  He  published 
or  edited  several  medical  works.  He 
died  in  Philadelphia,  April  19th  1813. 

103  This  most  illustrious  man  >.  as 
born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  Jan.  17th 
1706.  His  highly  distinguished 
career  cannot  well  be  epitomised ;  but, 
it  is  set  forth  very  comprehensively 
in  “  The  Works  of  Benjamin  Frank¬ 
lin,  containing  several  Political  and 
Historical  Tracts  not  included  in 
any  former  Edition,  and  many  Letters 
oftical  and  private  not  hitherto  pub¬ 
lished,  with  Notes  and  a  Life  of  the 
Author,”  by  Jared  Sparks,  in  ten 
fine  8vo  volumes.  Eighth  edition 
published  at  Boston  in  1814.  He  died 
in  Philadelphia,  April  17th  1790. 

104  He  was  bom  in  that  part  of 
Chester  County,  now  included  in 
Delaware  County,  Pa.,  in  1774.  Hav¬ 
ing  filled  some  civil  offices,  he  was  a 
delegate  to  the  first  Congress  in  1774, 
and  he  gave  the  casting  vote  of 
Pennsylvania  for  Independence  in 

1776.  He  did  not  long  survive,  and 
he  died  at  the  place  of  his  birth  in 

1777.  No  authentic  portrait  of  him 
remains. 

105  He  was  born  in  Philadelphia, 
Pa.,  in  1739.  He  pursued  a  business 
career,  and  during  the  agitation 
against  taxation  without  representa¬ 
tion,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Council 
of  Safety.  On  the  29th  of  July,  he 


NAMES  OF  THE  SIGNERS. 


201 


Hruith,  m  George  Taylor,  107  James  Wilson,  108  George  Koss.  I°'> 


became  one  of  the  first  continental 
treasurers,  and  he  converted  all  his 
specie  into  continental  currency.  He 
was  not  present  at  the  adoption  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  having 
been  only  appointed  a  delegate  on 
the  succeeding  20th  of  July,  but  his 
signature  was  afterwards  affixed  to 
it.  Having  served  his  country  very 
usefully,  he  withdrew  from  public 
life  in  1796.  He  was  the  author  of 
various  essays,  political,  literary  and 
scientific.  He  died  in  Morrisville, 
Buck’s  County,  Pa.,  January  23rd 
1813. 

106  James  Smith  was  Irish  born, 
and  as  generally  conjectured,  most 
probably  between  1712  and  1720,  for 
the  exact  date  has  not  been  discover¬ 
ed.  His  father  a  respectable  farmer 
had  a  numerous  family  of  children. 
He  left  Ireland,  when  his  second  son 
James  was  quite  a  young  lad,  and 
he  settled  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Susquehanna  River,  in  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania.  James  received  a 
superior  education,  under  the  im¬ 
mediate  care  of  Rev.  Dr.  Alison, 
Provost  of  the  College  at  Philadelphia. 
His  elder  brother  had  been  establish¬ 
ed  in  the  practice  of  the  law  at 
Lancaster,  when  James  studied  'mder 
his  guidance  and  followed  the  same 
profession.  He  afterwards  settled  in 
the  County  of  York.  When  the  re¬ 
lations  between  Great  Britain  and  her 
Colonies  became  strained,  one  of  the 
earliest  and  most  resolute — although 
then  advanced  in  years — was  James 
Smith.  As  one  of  the  three  delegates 
from  the  County  of  York  for  the 
Province  of  Pennsylvania,  he  was 
active  and  intelligent.  Soon  be  re¬ 
turned  to  York,  when  decisive 
measures  were  taken,  and  there  on 
his  own  responsibility,  he  commenced 
raising  and  drilling  the  first  volun¬ 
teer  company  formed  in  Pennsylvania 
for  opposing  the  British.  He  took 
the  command  as  captain,  and  when  the 
volunteer  companies  of  that  district 
had  become  sufficiently  numerous  to 
form  a  regiment,  he  was  unanimously 
chosen  as  its  colonel.  His  decision  of 
character,  courage,  high  abilities 
and  influence,  mainly  contributed  to 
overcome  the  Quakers  and  those  peace 


sentiments, which  their  peculiar  relig¬ 
ious  dogmas  served  to  promote  in 
Pennsylvania.  His  ardent  military 
spirit  set  such  an  example,  that 
twenty  thousand  volunteers  were  soon 
enrolled  within  that  important  pro¬ 
vince  alone.  Colonel  Smith  became 
a  member  of  that  Convention,  which 
assembled  in  Philadelphia.  On  the 
15th  of  July  1776,  he  assisted  to 
frame  a  new  Constitution,  for  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania.  He  had  been 
previously  named  on  a  committee,  to 
prepare  instructions  for  the  represen¬ 
tatives  of  a  State  Convention.  He 
then  wrote  a  celebrated  Essay  “  On 
the  Constitutional  Power  of  Great 
Britain  over  the  Colonies  in  America.” 
However,  the  Convention  appointed 
nine  members  of  the  Congress — of 
these  Colonel  Smith  was  one — aaid 
the  Declaration  of  Independence  super¬ 
seded  the  report  of  that  Committee. 
Colonel  Smith  continued  to  be  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  that  Convention  while  he  was 
a  member  of  Congress,  and  as  such 
he  was  ever  busily  employed  on  im¬ 
portant  Committees,  requiring  the 
exercise  of  great  judgment  and  busi¬ 
ness  capacity.  This  unremitting  lab¬ 
our  he  continued  until  March  1777, 
when  he  desired  retirement,  his  pri¬ 
vate  interests  having  suffered  consider¬ 
able  detriment  during  his  absence 
from  home.  But  he  was  not  long 
allowed  much  needed  repose,  as  the 
country  required  great  self-sacrifice. 
During  its  darkest  days  of  embarrass¬ 
ment  and  of  trial,  he  was  again 
elected  to  serve  in  Congress,  where 
he  was  enabled  to  render  most  valu¬ 
able  assistance  to  the  cause  of  his 
adopted  country.  At  last,  when 
Colonel  Smith  had  a  fair  prospect 
regarding  the  happy  termination  of 
war,  in  November  1778  he  finally 
withdrew  from  Congress  to  his  family 
and  professional  business.  He  was 
a  great  personal  and  political  friend 
of  Washington,  and  an  ardent  Federa¬ 
list.  He  died  in  York,  Pa.,  July 
11th  1806. 

107  George  Taylor  was  an  Irishman 
by  birth,  and  the  son  of  a  clergyman 
— of  what  particular  denomination  is 
not  known.  He  was  born  in  th6 


'202 


IUISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Delaware. — Cmsar  Rodney,110  George  Read,111  Thomas  McKean.11* 


year  1716.  When  a  boy,  he  received 
a  liberal  education,  and  he  was  des¬ 
tined  by  his  father  for  the  medical 
professon.  However,  having  a  turn 
for  adventure,  poor  and  friendless 
when  still  very  young,  he  stepped  on 
board  a  vessel  bound  for  New  York 
or  Philadelphia,  and  embarked  as  a 
redemptioner  to  seek  his  fortune.  On 
landing  in  Philadelphia,  he  was  en¬ 
gaged  by  a  Mr.  Savage,  to  labour  at 
his  iron  works  in  Durham,  a  village 
on  the  River  Delaware.  He  was  soon 
promoted  to  be  chief  clerk  in  that 
establishment,  which  situation  he  re¬ 
tained  for  several  years.  After  the 
death  of  Mr.  Savage,  George  Taylor 
married  his  widow,  and  entered  as 
master  upon  the  business,  which  he 
prosecuted  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
conducted  with  such  intelligence, 
skill  and  perseverance,  that  he  ac¬ 
quired  a  competent  fortune.  He  after¬ 
wards  retired  from  Durham,  having 
purchased  a  considerable  estate  on 
the  Lehigh,  in  the  County  of  North¬ 
ampton,  where  he  commenced  business 
anew.  There  he  resided  and  became 
most  popular.  Soon  he  was  deemed 
to  be  a  suitable  representative,  and 
he  was  elected  accordingly  to  the 
Colonial  Assembly,  in  1764.  His 
record  was  highly  useful  and  honour¬ 
able,  until  he  was  obliged  to  retire 
after  some  years  of  public  service,  to 
revive  his  private  business,  which  had 
become  impaired  during  his  absence. 
However,  in  Oct.  1755,  he  was  again 
elected  as  member  of  the  Provincial 
Assembly.  At  once,  he  was  placed 
on  all  the  standing  committees  of  the 
House.  The  political  ferment  was 
then  increasing,  and  George  Taylor 
was  selected  as  an  active,  a  zealous 
and  vigilant  member  for  the  Commit¬ 
tee  of  Public  Safety,  which  became  the 
principal  revolutionary  engine  in  that 
Province.  At  first,  it  was  difficult 
to  urge  the  Pennsylvania  representa¬ 
tives  to  enter  upon  decisive  and  war¬ 
like  measures.  However,  in  Novem¬ 
ber,  1775,  instructions  were  given  by 
the  people  to  their  delegates  in  Con¬ 
gress  not  to  adopt  any  course  which 
might  lead  to  or  result  in  a  separa¬ 
tion.  During  winter  and  spring,  the 
arbitrary  proceedings  of  the  British 
Government  changed  the  bent  of 


popular  feeling,  and  the  instructions 
of  June  1776  removed  the  former 
prohibition.  After  an  obstinate 
struggle  and  only  carried  in  the 
division  by  a  majority  of  one,  Penn¬ 
sylvania  resolved  to  throw  in  her 
fortunes  with  the  other  Colonies  then 
in  revolt.  A  new  delegation  was 
next  chosen,  and  more  popular  repre¬ 
sentatives  were  selected  to  replace  the 
dissentients.  George  Taylor  was  then 
elected  to  Congress.  [Giving  entire 
approval  to  the  Declaration  of  Inde¬ 
pendence,  on  the  4th  of  July,  with 
many  others,  he  set  his  signature  to 
the  promulgation  of  that  Congress¬ 
ional  vote,  although  the  document 
was  not  then  ready  for  formal  signa¬ 
ture.  On  the  2nd  day  of  August 
1776,  George  Taylor’s  name  was 
officially  signed  on  that  engrossed 
parchment  roll,  which  bore  its  con¬ 
tents.  He  only  spent  one  year  in 
Congress  after  the  realization  of  hisr 
favourite  object,  when  he  withdrew 
from  all  public  life  and  employments 
to  his  estates  in  Easton.  There  he 
departed  this  life  on  the  23rd  Febru¬ 
ary  1781,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five.  He 
was  greatly  respected  because  of  his 
public  and  private  integrity  of  charac¬ 
ter  ;  while  he  was  loved  by  his  adopt¬ 
ed  country  on  account  of  his  labours 
and  devotion  to  its  interests,  safety 
and  liberties. 

108  James  Wilson  was  born  near  St. 
Andrew’s,  Scotland,  Sept.  14th  1742, 
and  having  received  a  University 
education  at  St.  Andrew’s,  Glasgow 
and  Edinburgh,  he  emigrated  to 
America  about  1763.  Afterwards, 
he  practised  in  the  legal  profession. 
He  became  a  delegate  to  the  Provin¬ 
cial  Convention  of  January  23rd 
1775.  He  was  present  at  the  open¬ 
ing  of  Congress  on  the  10th  of  May. 
After  the  legislature  of  Pennsylvania 
had  withdrawn  its  restrictions  from 
the  votes  of  its  representatives,  James 
Wilson  still  resisted  separation  on 
the  8th  of  June  1776  ;  but  afterwards, 
on  the  1st  of  July,  he  and  John 
Morton  were  the  first  of  the  Pennsyl¬ 
vania  delegates  to  vote  for  Independ¬ 
ence.  His  subseauent  career  was 
varied  and  distinguished.  He  died 
at  Edenton,  N.C.,  August  28th  1798. 

109  George  Ross  was  born  in  New- 


NAMES  OF  THE  SIGNERS. 


203 


Maryland. — Samuel  Chase,113  William  Paca,111  Thomas  Stone,115 
Charles  Carroll  of  Carrollton.11* 


castle,  Del.  in  1730.  He  was  elected 
to  the  first  Continental  Congress  in 
1774,  and  he  continued  to  represent 
his  State  to  1777,  when  he  was  obliged 
to  resign  owing  to  ill  health.  Ad¬ 
mitted  to  the  bar,  afterwards  he  be¬ 
came  Judge  of  the  Admiralty  Court 
for  Pennsylvania.  He  died  in  Lan¬ 
caster,  Penn.,  in  July  1779. 

110  He  was  born  in  Dover,  Del., 
Oct.  7th  1728.  He  became  an  active 
politician,  and  he  was  elected  as  dele¬ 
gate  to  the  Continental  Congress  in 
1774,  and  again  in  March  1775. 
While  serving  in  Congress,  he  also 
took  part  in  the  military  organisation 
and  movements  for  Deleware.  He 
died  in  Dover,  Del.,  June  29th  1784. 

111  George  Read,  son  of  John,  a 
Dublin  man,  who  emigrated  to  Amer¬ 
ica,  and  who  settled  in  Cecil  County, 
Province  of  Maryland.  George  was 
born  there,  Sept.  17th  in  1733,  and 
he  was  the  oldest  of  six  brothers. 
Not  long  after  his  birth,  their  father 
moved  to  the  adjoining  Province  of 
Delaware,  on  the  head  waters  of 
Christiana  River.  His  son  George 
was  educated  for  a  time  at  a  Semi¬ 
nary  in  Pennsylvania,  and  afterwards 
he  was  under*  the  care  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Allison  of  New  London,  in  the  same 
Province.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
Philadelphia  bar  at  the  early  age 
of  nineteen  years,  after  a  course  of 
diligent  and  careful  study,  and  after¬ 
wards  he  became  Attorney-General. 
He  warned  the  British  Government 
regarding  the  danger  of  taxing  the 
Colonies  without  giving  them  direct 
representation  in  Parliament.  In  li63, 
he  married  Gertrude,  the  sister  of 
George  Ross,  signer  of  the  Declara¬ 
tion  of  Independence,  For  twelve 
years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Dele¬ 
ware  Assembly,  when  he  wrote  an  ad¬ 
dress  of  King  George  III.  Having 
resigned  the  Attorney-Generalship,  he 
wae  elected  a  delegate  to  the  first 
Congress  which  met  in  Philadelphia 
in  1774.  Although  at  first  he  voted 
against  Independence,  he  afterwards 
signed  the  Declaration,  and  thence¬ 
forward  he  was  one  of  its  staunchest 
supporters.  He  was  a  delegate  to 
the  Annapolis  Convention  of  1786, 


which  gave  rise  to  the  Convention 
that,  met  in  Philadelphia  in  1787,  and 
which  framed  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States.  He  was  twice  elected 
U.S.  Senator.  In  1793  he  resigned 
that  dignity  to  assume  the  office  of 
Chief  Justice  for  Deleware.  He  died 
in  Newcastle,  Del.,  Sept.  21st  1798. 
William  T.  Read  published  his  Life  and 
Cox-respoudence  at  Philadelphia  in  1780. 

' 12  Thomas  McKean,  who  afterwards 
became  President  of  Congress,  was  an 
Irish- American ;  both  his  parents 
having  been  natives  of  Ireland,  they 
emigrated  to  America,  and  settled  in 
New  London,  then  a  lately  formed 
township  in  Chester  County,  Province 
of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  the  second 
child  of  his  parents,  who  had  four 
sons  and  one  daughter.  He  was  born 
on  the  19th  of  March  1734.  With  his 
oldest  brother  Robert,  Thomas  was 
placed  at  an  early  age  under  care  of 
Rev.  Dr.  Allison,  the  instructor  of 
so  many  scholars  who  attained  emi¬ 
nence  during  the  Revolutionary  War. 
He  studied  for  the  bar  and  soon  be¬ 
came  celebrated  as  a  lawyer.  From  1774 
to  1783,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Con¬ 
tinental  Congress,  and  the  only  repre¬ 
sentative  that  served  there  from  its 
opening  to  the  peace.  He  rendered 
most  valuable  services  in  all  its  de¬ 
liberations  aud  transactions.  He 
became  President  of  Congress  in  1781, 
and  in  that  capacity  he  received  the 
despatches  of  General  Washington 
announcing  the  surrender  of  Lord 
Cornwallis.  With  professor  John 
Wilson,  he  published  “  Commentaries 
on  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,”  London,  1790.  His  policy 
as  a  leader  of  the  Republican  party 
caused  Thomas  Jefferson  to  be  elected 
as  President.  Thomas  McKean  died 
in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  on  the  24th  of 
Juno  1817. 

1,3  He  was  born  in  Somerset  Co., 
Md.,  April  17th  1741,  and  he  became 
a  lawyer.  He  was  elected  member  of 
the  Continental  Congress  in  1774,  and 
he  served  in  successive  Congresses  to 
1778.  After  the  peace  he  visited 
England  in  1783.  On  hip  return  to 
America,  he  held  various  judicial 
positions.  He  died  June  19th  1811. 


204 


IR1SHAMKRICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Virginia. — George  Wjthe,”7  Kiohard  Henry  Lee,11*1  Thomas  Jeffer- 


114  He  was  born  in  Wyehall,  Har* 
ford  Oo.,  Md.,  October  31st  1740. 
He  graduated  in  the  Philadelphia 
College,  and  afterwards  sailing  for 
England,  he  entered  the  Middle 
Temple,  London,  as  a  Law  student, 
and  he  was  called  to  the  bar  in  1764. 
He  was  elected  a  delegate  to  Congress 
in  1774,  and  he  served  in  that  capa¬ 
city  to  1779.  Afterwards,  he  was 
elected  Governor  of  Maryland,  from 
1782  to  1786.  He  died  in  his  native 
place  during  1799. 

115  He  was  born  in  Charles  Co., 
Md.,  in  1743,  and  he  embraced  the 
legal  profession.  He  was  elected 
in  1774  to  the  Continental  Congress, 
and  he  served  in  that  of  1775  and 
1776.  In  after  life,  he  followed  a 
political  career,  and  he  practised  at 
the  bar.  He  died  in  Alexandria,  Va., 
October  5th  1787. 

1,6  Charles  Carroll,  of  Carrollton, 
the  last  survivor  among  the  signers  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  was 
an  Irish-American.  His  grandfather 
Daniel  Carroll,  a  native  of  Litta- 
mourna,  in  Ireland,  was  a  clerk  in  the 
office  of  Lord  Powis,  during  the  reign 
of  James  II.  In  the  latter  part  of  the 
seventeenth  century,  Daniel  left  Eng¬ 
land  for  America,  and  settled  in 
Maryland,  where  he  was  appointed 
agent  to  Lord  Baltimore,  the  chief 
proprietor  of  that  Colony.  He  was 
also  Judge  and  Registrar  of  the  Land 
Office.  His  son  Daniel  was  born 
there  in  1702,  while  Daniel’s  son 
Charles,  the  subject  of  this  notice, 
was  born  on  the  20th  of  September, 
1737,  at  Annapolis,  Maryland.  At 
eight  years  of  age,  he  was  placed  in 
the  English  Jesuits’  College  of  St. 
Omer,  in  France,  to  receive  his  educa¬ 
tion.  In  his  own  State,  founded  by 
Catholics  on  the  principle  of  reli¬ 
gious  toleration,  the  education  of 
Catholics  had  been  proscribed  by  law 
in  the  days  of  his  youth.  The  estab¬ 
lished  Church  of  England  had  been 
supported  in  Maryland  by  taxing  the 
people  of  all  other  creeds,  and  after 
Mr.  Carroll’s  return  to  that  Colony, 
over  the  signature  of  the  “  First 
Citizen,”  he  attacked  the  validity  of 
the  law  which  imposed  such  a  tax. 
In  December  1774,  he  was  appointed 


one  of  the  committee  of  correspond¬ 
ence  for  the  Province,  and  in  1775, 
he  was  elected  one  of  the  Council  of 
Safety.  On  the  7th  of  December  of 
that  year,  he  was  elected  delegate  to 
the  Revolutionary  Convention.  To 
distinguish  himself  from  other  mem 
bers  of  his  family,  when  attaching 
his  signature  to  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  he  signed  Charles  Car- 
roll,  of  Carrollton.  He  afterwards 
served  with  great  zeal,  in  various 
civil  capacities.  On  the  4th  of  July 
1828,  he  laid  with  much  ceremony  the 
foundation-stone  of  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Railroad.  He  was  greatly  re¬ 
spected  for  his  virtues,  and  he  died 
in  Baltimore,  November  14th  1832. 
His  life  has  been  written  by  John  K. 
B.  Latrobe, 

117  He  was  born  in  Elizabeth  City 
Co.,  Va. ,  in  1726,  and  having  received 
an  excellent  education,  he  adopted  the 
legal  profession,  and  rose  to  eminence 
at  the  bar.  In  August  1775,  he  was 
appointed  a  delegate  to  the  Continen¬ 
tal  Coneress.  Subsequently  he  be¬ 
came  Chancellor  of  Virginia.  He 
died  in  Richmond,  Va.,  June  8th 
1806. 

1,8  He  was  born  in  Stratford,  West¬ 
moreland  Co.,  Va.,  Jan.  20th  1732, 
and  at  an  early  age  he  was  sent  to 
England  for  his  education.  He  re¬ 
turned  to  America  in  1752,  when  he 
applied  to  legal  studies.  He  was 
elected  to  the  house  of  Burgesses  of 
Virginia,  and  he  became  an  ardent 
advocate  for  revolution.  In  August 
1774,  he  was  chosen  as  delegate  to 
the  first  Continental  Congress.  Dur¬ 
ing  the  second  Congress,  he  drew  up 
the  Address  to  the  people  of  Great 
Britain.  Afterwards,  he  zealously 
served  on  various  Committees.  On 
the  30tA  of  November  1784,  he  was 
chosen  President  of  the  Continental 
Congress.  He  assisted  in  framing 
the  United  States  Constitution.  At 
first,  he  was  an  Anti-Federalist,  but 
afterwards  he  became  an  ardent  sup¬ 
porter  of  Washington’s  Administra¬ 
tion.  In  1792,  his  health  began  to 
fail,  and  resigning  his  seat  in  the 
Senate,  ho  retired  to  his  estate  at 
Chantilly,  Va.,  where  he  died,  June 
19th  1794.  His  grandson,  also  named 


NAMES  OF  THE  SltiNEKS. 


20*-' 


son,119  Benjamin  Harrison/’2'1  Thomas  Nelson,  Jun.,121  Francis  Lightfoo' 
Lee,122  Carter  Braxton.123 

North  Carolina. — William  Hooper/21  Joseph  Hewes/23  Joh» 
Penn.129 


Richard  Henry  Lee,  published  in  two 
volumes  “  Memoir  of  the  Life  of 
Richard  Henry  Lee  and  his  Corres¬ 
pondence.”  Philadelphia,  1825. 

119  This  illustrious  man  was  born  in 
Shadwell,  Albemarle  Co.,  Va.,  on  the 
2nd  of  April  1743.  H  is  father  was  a 
planter  and  of  Welsh  extraction, 
while  his  son  entered  the  College  of 
WTilliam  and  Mary  at  seventeen,  and 
there  he  became  a  diligent  student. 
Afterwards,  he  embraced  the  study  of 
law,  of  which  he  acquired  a  profound 
knowledge.  At  the  ‘age  of  twenty- 
six,  he  was  elected  to  the  house  of 
Burgesses,  Va.,  and  in  1772,  he  mar¬ 
ried  Mrs.  Martha  Skelton,  a  beauti¬ 
ful  and  childless  young  widow,  whose 
father’s  great  wealth  and  estates  soon 
fell  into  their  possession.  Jefferson 
took  a  leading  part  in  the  agitation 
for  Independence,  and  from  the  time 
he  entered  Congress  in  1775,  he  be¬ 
came  an  earnest  and  a  useiul  member. 
Having  resigned  his  seat  in  Congress, 
after  writing  the  celebrated  Declara¬ 
tion,  in  January  1779  he  was  elected 
Governor  of  Virginia  To  him  it  be¬ 
came  a  position  of  great  anxiety,  as 
he  was  obliged  to  keep  up  the  Virginia 
regiments  and  supplies  for  the  armies 
of  Washington  and  Gates  In  June 
1782,  he  was  elected  to*Congress,  and 
afterwards  his  public  career  was  de¬ 
voted  to  all  the  great  measures  then 
debated.  In  1785,  he  was  appointed 
Minister  Plenipotentiary  to  the  King 
of  France.  Afterwards,  he  became 
President  of  the  United  States.  On 
the  4th  of  March  1809,  he  retired 
into  private  life,  and  he  died  at  Mon- 
ticello,  Va.,  on  July  4th  1826.  The 
Life  of  this  celebrated  man  has  been 
written  in  three  volumes,  by  Henry 
S.  Randall,  and  it  was  published  in 
New  York,  in  1858. 

120  He  was  born  in  Berkeley,  Charles 
Co.,  Va.,  about  1740.  In  1774,  he 
was  appointed  one  of  lire  delegates 
to  Congress,  and  four  *imes  he  was 
elected  to  a  seat  in  that  body.  After¬ 
wards,  he  was  elected  Governor  of 
Virginia.  He  died  in  April  1791. 

121  He  was  born  in  Yorktown,  Va., 


December  26th  1738,  and  at  fourteen 
years  of  age,  he  was  sent  to  school 
at  Eton,  England.  Afterwards,  he 
graduated  at  Cambridge  University. 
He  returned  to  America  in  1761,  and 
he  became  a  member  of  the  House  of 
Burgesses,  Va.  After  serving  in  Con¬ 
gress,  owing  to  severe  illness,  he  was 
obliged  to  resign  his  seat  in  1777. 
Afterwards,  however,  both  in  a  mili¬ 
tary  and  civil  character  he  became  very 
active,  until  he  was  elected  Governor 
of  Va.,  in  1781.  He  served  at  the 
Siege  of  Yorktown,  but  the  rest  of 
his  life  was  passed  in  retirement.  He 
died  at  Hanover  Co.,  Va.,  January 
4th  1789. 

122  He  was  a  younger  brother  of 
Richard  Henry  Lee,  and  born  at 
Stratford,  Westmoreland  Co.,  Va., 
October  14th  1734.  He  was  educated 
at  home  by  a  Scotch  clergyman, 
named  Craig.  In  1766,  he  was  elected 
to  the  House  of  Burgesses,  'in  1775, 
on  the  resignation  of  Colonel  Bland, 
he  was  elected  delegate  to  the  Conti¬ 
nental  Congress,  and  he  was  re-elected  the 
three  following  years.  In  the  spring 
of  1779,  he  retired  from  Congress,  and 
he  died  in  Richmond,  Va.,  April  3rd 
1797 

,23He  was  born  in  Newington, 
King’s  and  Queen’s  Co.,  Va.,  Sept. 
10th  1736,  and  he  was  educated  at 
William  and  Mary  College.  In  the 
House  of  Burgesses  he  opposed  the 
arbitrary  acts  of  Lord  Dunmore  with 
great  spirit.  On  the  15th  of  Decem¬ 
ber  1775,  he  was  chosen  to  succeed 
Peyton  Randolph,  as  delegate  to  the 
Continental  Congress.  He  served, 
after  the  Revolutionary  War,  in  the 
State  Legislature.  He  died  in  Rich¬ 
mond,  Va.,  October  10th  1797. 

124  He  was  born  in  Mass.,  June  17th 
1742,  and  he  studied  law.  Afterwards, 
he  settled  in  Wilmington,  N.C.  He 
was  elected  to  the  Continental  Con¬ 
gress  in  1774,  but,  after  the  Declara¬ 
tion  of  Independence,  his  private 
affairs  became  embax-rassed,  and  he  was 
obliged  to  return  home.  In  1781,  he 
removed  to  Hillsboro’,  where  he  died 
in  October  1790. 


1 


206  IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

f  ■* 

South  Carolina. — Edward  Rutledge,1-7  Thomas  Hey  wood,  Jun.,12* 
Thomas  Lynch,  Jun.,129  Arthur  Middleton.130 


125  He  was  bom  in  Kingston,  N.  J., 
in  1730,  and  in  after  life  he  was  en¬ 
gaged  in  business.  In  1774,  he  was 
chosen  as  a  delegate  to  the  Continen¬ 
tal  Congress.  He  fell  into  ill-health, 
and  died  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Nov. 
10th  1779. 

126  He  was  born  in  Caroline  Co., 
Va.,  May  17th  1741,  and  he  studied 
law  in  after  life.  He  was  admitted' 
to  the  bar  in  1762.  He  removed  to 
Greenville  Co.,  N.C.,  in  1774.  He 
was  chosen  for  the  Continental  Con¬ 
gress,  Sept.  8th  1775,  to  supply  a 
vacancy.  He  was  re-elected  in  1777 
and  in  1779.  Having  discharged  many 
civic  duties  with  great  credit  he  re¬ 
tired  into  private  life  in  April  1785. 
He  died  in  September  1788. 

127  Edward  Rutledge,  soldier,  states¬ 
man  and  signer,  was  an  Irish-Ameri- 
can  having  been  the  son  of  an  Irish- 
born  emigrant,  Dr.  John  Rutledge, 
who  left  his  country  in  1735,  and  who 
settled  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina. 
There  Edward,  the  youngest  of  seven 
children,  was  born  in  November  1740. 
He  was  educated  by  a  classical  in¬ 
structor  from  New  Jersey,  and  in 
1759  he  was  sent  as  a  law-student  to 
England.  He  returned  to  Charleston, 
and  remarkable  for  eloquence,  he 
commenced  practising  law  there  in 
1773.  Talents  like  his  were  well  cal¬ 
culated  to  promote  the  cause  of  Inde¬ 
pendence.  Rutledge  was  among  the 
first  selected  members  to  the 
Continental  Congress  in  1774. 
The  Revolution  found  him  on 
the  side  of  liberty,  and  while 
the  contest  lasted,  with  voice,  pen 
and  sword,  he  resisted  the  pretensions 
of  England.  On  the  evacuation  of 
Charleston,  having  been  released  as 
a  prisoner  of  war,  he  returned  to  his 
home,  and  resumed  his  professional 
practice.  He  was  elected  Governor  of 
South  Carolina  in  1798,  but  he  did 
not  live  to  complete  his  term.  He 
died  in  Charleston,  S.C.,  January 
23rd  1800. 

128  He  was  bora  in  St.  Luke’s  parish, 
S.C.,  1746.  He  studied  law  in  Eng¬ 
land,  and  having  travelled  much 
through  Europe,  he  returned  to  South 
Carolina.  He  was  a  delegate  to  Con¬ 


gress  from  1775  to  1778.  In  1780,  he 
became  Judge  of  the  Criminal  and 
Circuit  Court  of  S.C.,  and  at  the  same 
time  he  bore  a  military  commission. 
He  commanded  a  battalion  of  Volun¬ 
teers  at  the  Siege  of  Charleston,  S.C., 
in  1780,  and  he  was  made  prisoner 
there  on  the  12th  of  May.  During 
his  imprisonment,  the  British  wrecked 
his  estate  and  property.  In  1790,  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional 
Convention  of  S.C.  ;  but  next  year, 
he  retired  to  his  estate,  where  he  died 
on  the  6th  of  March  1809. 

129  Thomas  Lynch,  Jun.,  the  young¬ 
est  of  the  signers,  was  of  Irish  descent, 
as  his  great  grandfather  left  Ireland 
and  dwelt  in  South  Carolina,  soon 
after  the  settlement  of  that  colony 
commenced.  His  youngest  son  was 
named  Thomas;  and  he  left  a  son 
Thomas,  called  the  Elder,  to  distin¬ 
guish  him  from  a  son  again  called  by 
the  father’s  name,  and  especially 
denominated  Thomas  Lynch,  Junior, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  The  latter 
was  born  on  the  5th  of  August  1749, 
at  his  father’s  residence,  a  plantation 
'on  the  North  Santee  River,  in  Prince 
George’s  parish  South  Carolina.  At 
the  age  of  twelve,  he  was  sent  to 
Eton  College  in  England,  and  from 
it  he  entered  Cambridge  University. 
He  studied  l^,w  in  the  Temple  ;  but 
he  returned  to  America  in  1772,  and 
devoted  himself  to  cultivating  his 
father’s  plantation  on  the  North  San¬ 
tee  River.  His  father  had  been  sent 
to  the  first  Continental  Congress,  but 
his  failing  health  compelling  him  to 
resign,  Thomas  Lynch,  Jun.,  commis¬ 
sioned  as  a  Captain  of  the  first  regi¬ 
ment  embodied  in  South  Carolina,  was 
unanimously  elected  by  the  Provincial 
Assembly  to  supply  his  place.  He 
accordingly  took  a  seat  in  the  Con¬ 
gress  of  1776,  but  his  health  failed  in 
the  autumn  of  that  year,  and  he  was 
compelled  to  return  to  South  Caro¬ 
lina.  Still  in  a  declining  state,  he 
desired  to  embark  in  some  neutral  ship 
for  the  South  of  France.  About  the 
close  of  1779,  he  took  passage  for  St. 
Eustacius,  but  the  vessel  in  which  he 
sailed  when  a  few  days  out  at  sea  was 
seen  for  the  last  time  and  was  never 


NAMES  OP  TIIK  SIGNERS. 


207 


Georgia. — Button  Gwinnett,181  Lyman  Hall,132  George  Walton.133 

The  Declaration  of  Independence  received  almost  unanimous  ap¬ 
proval  among  the  people  throughout  the  Confederated  States.134  On 
the  9th  of  July,  in  New  York,  Washington  caused  it  to  be  read  before 
his  assembled  army.  Congress  put  forth  all  its  energies,  to  secure  unity 
of  action  and  harmony  of  sentiment  among  the  people.135  In  turn, 
these  learned  the  necessity  for  prompt  co-operation  in  civil  and  military 


afterwards  heard  of,  while  most  prob¬ 
ably  it  was  lost  in  a  tempest. 

130  He  was  born  in  Middleton  Place 
on  Ashley  River,  S.C.,  June  26th 
1742.  The  son  of  a  rich  planter,  he 
was  sent  to  England  for  his  education, 
which  was  received  at  Harrow  and 
Westminister  Schools ;  afterwards,  he 
graduated  in  Cambridge  University. 
He  made  a  tour  through  Europe,  and 
returned  to  S.C.  in  1763.  He  went 
back  to  England  in  1768,  and  again 
sailed  for  America  in  1771.  He  suc¬ 
ceed  his  father  Henry  in  the  Conti¬ 
nental  Congress  in  1776.  In  1780,  he 
was  active  in  the  defence  of  Charles¬ 
ton,  where  he  was  made  prisoner. 
After  the  Revolutionary  War  ended, 
he  served  as  Senator  in  his  native 
State.  He  died  at  Goose  Creek,  S.C., 
January  1st  1787. 

131  He  was  born  in  England  about 
1732,  whence  he  emigrated  to  Charles¬ 
ton,  S.C.  and  afterwards  he  removed 
to  Savannah,  Ga.  At  a  meeting  of 
the  Provincial  Assembly  held  there 
Jan.  20th  1776,  he  was  appointed  a 
representative  in  Congress.  He  be¬ 
came  a  candidate  for  the  commission 
of  brigadier-general  of  a  Continental 
Brigade  to  be  levied  in  Georgia,  in 
opposition  to  General  Lachlan  McIn¬ 
tosh.  Being  unsuccessful,  Gwinnett 
sent  his  opponent  a  challenge.  Hav¬ 
ing  been  mortally  wounded  in  the 
duel,  fought  on  May  15th,  he  lingered 
for  a  few  days,  and  he  died  May  27th 
1777. 

132  He  was  born  in  Connecticut, 
1725,  and  he  removed  to  Georgia  in 
1752,  where  he  practised  medicine. 
In  1774  and  1775,  he  was  influential 
in  urging  Georgia  to  join  the  other 
Colonies.  In  the  latter  year,  he  was 
elected  by  the  parish  of  St.  John  to 
Congress,  and  he  served  there  until 
1780.  He  afterwards  served  as  Gov¬ 
ernor  of  Georgia  for  one  term,  and 
he  died  there  October  19th  1790. 

133  He  was  born  in  Frederick  County, 


Va.,  in  1740.  He  began  life  as  a 
carpenter,  but  afterwards  he  applied 
to  the  study  ox  law.  He  was  active 
in  stirring  up  Georgia  to  take  part  in 
the  Revolutionary  movement.  From 
February  1776,  to  October  1781,  he 
served  in  Congress,  and  he  commanded 
a  battalion  when  Savannah  was  taken 
by  the  British.  In  1789,  he  was 
chosen  Governor  of  Georgia.  He  died 
in  Augusta,  Ga.,  Feb.  2nd  1804. 
For  much  more  extended  notices  of 
the  various  signers  of  American  Inde¬ 
pendence,  the  reader  may  consult 
Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of  American 
Biography,”  edited  by  James  Grant 
Wilson,  and  John  Fiske,  assisted  by 
various  capable  contributors.  See 
also,  N.  Dwight’s  “Lives  of  the 
Signers  of  American  Independence,” 
the  “  Encyclopedia  Americana,”  and 
“  American  Biographical  and  Histori¬ 
cal  Dictionaiy,”  published  at  Boston, 
1832,  8vo.  Also  Ed.  O’Meagher 
Condon’s  “  Irish  Race  in  America,” 
chap.  xii.  Glasgow  and  London ;  no 
date,  8vo. 

134  Their  various  forms  of  Govern¬ 
ment  are  to  be  found,  at  a  later 
period,  in  the  Rev.  William  Jackson’s 
“  Constitutions  of  the  several  Inde¬ 
pendent  States  of  America,  Declara¬ 
tion  of  Independence,  Articles  of 
Confederation,  Dec'aration  of  Rights, 
Non-Importation  Agreement,  Petition 
to  the  King,”  &c.  This  is  a  thick  8vo 
volume,  printed  in  1783.  It  has  a 
portrait  of  General  Washington. 

135  Soon  after  the  Declaration  of  In¬ 
dependence,  Benjamin  Franklin,  John 
Adams  and  Thomas  Jefferson  wer® 
appointed  a  Committee  to  prepare  a 
great  seal  for  the  infant  Republic. 
Jefferson’s  design  with  the  motto  “  B 
Pluribus  Unum,”  and  in  his  own  hand¬ 
writing,  is  now  in  the  office  of  the 
Secretary  of  State  in  Washington. 
However,  the  design  for  the  Seal  was 
deferred,  until  finally  settled,  in  the 
year  1799. 


208  1R1SH-AMERJOAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

affairs.  The  recommendation  of  Congress,  that  the  several  States 
should  organize  governments  for  themselves,  and  based  on  democratic 
principles,  was  quickly  followed. 13B  Soon  after  the  Declaration  of  Inde¬ 
pendence,  most  of  the  States  formed  their  own  Constitutions.137  The 
Constitutions  of  Virginia,  New  Hampshire,  New  Jersey,  Delaware, 
Pennsylvania.  North  Carolina.  South  Carolina,  and  Maryland  138  were 
formed  in  1776.  An  independent  Constitution  was  formed  for  New 
York  139  and  Georgia,  in  1776.  Massachusetts  adopted  a  State  Con¬ 
stitution  in  17  80140.  These  organizations  were  chiefly  intended  to 
direct  internal  and  local  administration.  However,  those  articles  ol 
association,  which  had  been  adopted  after  the  Declaration  of  Indepen¬ 
dence,  did  not  form  a  sufficient  Constitution  for  the  nation,  nor  a 
reliable  bond  for  united  action.  Defects  were  soon  ascertained  as 
the  Devolution  progressed.  Nearly  all  power  had  been  vested  in  the 
separate  States,  and  Congress  had  little  authority  left  to  direct  public 
affairs. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Invasion  of  New  York  by  General  and  Admiral  Howe — Battle  of  Long  Island — 
American  Evacuation  of  New  York — Futile  Attempts  to  establish  Peace — 
Engagements  inNewYork — Operationsin  theNorth — Taking  of  FortWashing- 
ton — The  American  Army  retreats  into  New  Jersey — Its  weakened  Condition 
— The  Battles  of  Trenton  and  Princetown — The  Americans  recover  Ground  in 
New  Jersey. 

The  storm  of  war  was  now  gathering  to  descend  on  the  devoted  heads 
of  the  patriots.  On  the  2nd  day  of  July,  General  Howe  sailed  from 
Halifax  with  the  garrison  of  Boston,  and  having  a  large  reinforcement 
of  other  troops,  he  appeared  before  New  York,  on  the  12th  July. 
He  then  landed  on  Staten  Island.1  Ten  days  later,  his  brother 
Admiral  Lord  Howe  arrived  from  England  with  an  additional  contingent 


136 See  “Political  Reflections  on  the 
Charters  of  the  American  Colonies,’" 
by  an  American,  1782,  8vo. 

187  See  “  The  Constitutions  of  the 
several  States,  the  Declaration  of  In¬ 
dependence,  Articles  of  Confederation, 
and  Copies  of  Treaties  with  Foreign 
Powers,”  1783,  8vo. 

158  Many  amendments  to  it  were 
afterwards  made.  See  “  An  Historical 
View  of  the  Government  of  Maryland, 
from  its  Colonization  to  the  present 
Day.” 

139  See  Jabez  D.  Hammond’s  “Poli¬ 
tical  History  of  New  York  to  Decem¬ 
ber,  1840.”  Two  volumes  8vo.  Pub¬ 
lished  at  Albany  and  Syracuse,  1843. 


140  Connecticut  continued  to  be  gov¬ 
erned  by  the  Royal  Charter  received 
from  Charles  II.  until  the  year  1818, 
when  a  new  Constitution  was  adopted. 
In  like  manner  the  Royal  Charter 
obtained  from  Charles  II.  served  for 
the  Government  of  Rhode  Island,  until 
the  year  1841.  Then  the  suffrage  was 
intended  to  be  extended  in  favour 
of  every  white  male  citizen  of  the 
United  States  residing  in  Rhode 
/sland,  and  in  1844,  the  present  State 
Constitution  was  framed  and  ratified 
bv  its  people.  See  “  Gazetteer  of  the 
World,”  Vol.  xi.,  p.  269. 

1  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  ix.,  chap, 
i.,  pp.  37  to  44. 


INVASION  OF  NEW  YORK  BY  GENERAL  AND  ADMIRAL  HOWE.  209 

of  forces.2  They  had  been  appointed  as  Commissioners  to  treat  for 
peace;  but,  on  opening  a  direct  communication  with  General  Washington, 
the  latter  declined  to  receive  their  letter  which  did  not  recognise  his 
military  title.  Lord  Howe  had  also  issued  a  proclamation,  that  the 
Commissioners  were  empowered  to  grant  pardon  to  persons  and  colonies 
returning  to  their  allegiance.  As  a  last  effort  to  avoid  hostilities,  Lord 
Howe  addressed  Dr.  Franklin,  who  answered,  that  preparatory  to  any 
proposition  of  amity,  in  his  opinion,  Great  Britain  would  be  required  to 
acknowledge  the  independence  of  America,  to  defray  the  expenses  of 
the  war,  and  to  indemnify  the  Colonies  for  burning  their  towns.3 

Meantime,  General  Washington  made  the  best  dispositions  he  could 
for  the  defence  of  New  York.  He  occupied  Brooklyn  on  Long  Island, 
while  earth-works  were  thrown  up  at  suitable  positions  along  the  East 
River  and  the  Hudson.  However,  the  English  fleet  of  Lord  Howe 
and  the  land  forces  of  his  brother  General  Howe,  amounting  soon  to 
25,000  regular  soldiers,  were  too  powerful  to  be  long  resisted.  Troops 
under  Lord  Cornwallis,  with  8,000  Hessians,  had  also  arrived,  and 
likewise  Admiral  Sir  Peter  Parker  with  his  fleet.  To  Generals  Green  and 
Sullivan  successively,  the  defence  of  Long  Island  was  assigned,  while 
Washington  himself  remained  in  New  York;  but,  as  the  British  in  great 
force  invaded  Long  Island,  on  the  22nd  August  and  at  some  distance 
from  the  American  lines,  General  Putnam4  in  right  of  his  rank  as  second 
in  command  was  sent  on  the  24th,  to  take  charge  of  that  important  post. 
Not  more  than  8,000  volunteers  and  militia  could  be  mustered  for  the 
defence ;  so  that,  outnumbered  nearly  five  to  one,  it  seemed  impossible 
to  withstand  the  advance  of  regular  troops.5  The  Maryland  and  Penn¬ 
sylvania  troops  fought  through  the  onset  with  great  determination  ; 
and,  in  the  battle  which  soon  took  place,  Moylan,  Hand,  Thompson,  and 
Butler  were  conspicuous  for  their  valour.  After  landing  on  Long  Island, 
the  British  were  successful,  on  the  morning  of  the  :7th,  in  getting 
possession.6  Howe  attacked  General  Putnam  in  front,  and  turned  his 
flank  on  the  left.  With  a  British  loss  of  60  killed  and  250  wounded, 
the  Provincials,  in  killed,  wounded,  drowned  in  the  morass,  or  taken 
prisoners,  numbered  3,000."  While  the  battle  was  raging,  Washington 
marched  to  the  assistance  of  Putnam,  but  the  struggle  was  over  before 


2  See  “History  of  New  York  City 
during  the  American  Revolution,  with 
a  Collection  of  original  Papers,  now 
first  published,”  with  a  folding  Plan. 
New  York,  1861,  4to. 

3  See  John  Adolphus’  “  History  of 
England  from  the  Accession  of  King 
George  the  Third,”  Vol.  ii. ,  chap, 
xxix.,  pp.  412  413. 

4  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,  Commander-in-Chief  of 
the  American  Armies,  and  First  Pre¬ 
sident  of  the  United  States,”  &e.,  Vol. 
i.,  chap,  viii.,  p.  120. 


5  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  Hisony 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  ix.,  chap, 
iv.,  p.  86. 

See  Lossing’s  “  Pictorial  Field 
Book  of  the  Revolution,”  Vol.  ii., 
chap,  xxxi.,  pp.  804  to  811. 

7  We  read  however,  “  though  the 
Court  endeavoured  to  stifle  it,  it  was 
soon  know  that  the  Hessians  had 
committed  great  butchery,  and  refused 
to  give  any  quarter.” — Horace  Wal¬ 
pole’s  “Journal  of  the  Reign  of  King 
Georsre  the  Thrd,  from  the  year  1771 
to  1783,”  Vol.  ii.,  p.  70. 


#  L 


210  ItRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

lie  cotul  tr/ive  on  the  field.8  On  that  day,  the  bravery  of  Lord  Sterling, 
at  the  head  of  the  Delaware  and  Maryland  regiments,  was  most  admir¬ 
able  ;  but,  fighting  with  desperate  bravery,  they  were  at  last  surrounded, 
and  their  leader  was  obliged  to  surrender.  Colonel  Johnston  at  the 
head  of  the  Jersey  Militia  fought  well,  until  shot  in  the  breast,  when 
his  command  dispersed.  Many  of  the  Americans  who  surrendered  were 
massacred  in,  cold  blood  ;  those  who  surrendered  as  prisoners  of  war  were 
crowded  together  on  a  vessel  moored  near  New  York,  where  hundreds 
were  carried  off  by  malignant  fever,  and  where  incredible  privations  had 
to  be  endured.9  General  Sullivan  was  there  made  prisoner,  with  a 
large  part  of  his  force.  Though  charged  with  sorrow  for  the  Americans, 
the  events  of  that  day  shed  little  glory  on  the  British,  and  on  their 
mercenaries.10 

Full  of  anxiety  for  the  safety  of  his  troops,  and  finding  that  the 
evacuation  of  Long  Island  was  necessary,  Washington  had  despatched 
secret  orders,  to  have  all  available  boats  sent  from  New  York  and  the 
Hudson,  while  he  still  maintained  a  position  in  front  of  the  British 
encampment.  These  means  for  transportation  were  to  arrive  after  dark. 
All  night  on  the  29th,  the  American  commander  was  engaged  in 
arranging  the  order  for  outposts  to  deceive  the  enemy,  while  gradually 
the  different  companies  were  moved  towards  the  shore.  Thus  obliged  to 
retreat,  Washington  ably  conducted  the  movements  of  his  troops.11  He 
managed  most  adroitly,  notwithstanding  the  proximity  of  the  two  camps 
to  pass  away  unsuspected  by  the  enemy,  and  in  wonderful  order,  with 
his  infantry,  artillery  and  baggage.1-  The  defeated  Americans,  before 
daylight  on  the  morning  of  August  20th,  were  ferried  across  the  East 
River  to  New  York.  They  were  aided  by  a  thick  fog,  and  the  first 
boat  was  out  of  range,  before  General  Howe  discovered  this  movement. 


e 


During  the  execution  of  their  attempt,  the  English,  whose  forces  were 
so  numerous  and  well  disciplined,  should  have  succeeded  in  cutting  off 
the  American  retreat,  had  the  energy  and  intelligence  of  Howe  equalled 
the  number  and  courage  of  his  men. 

Although  he  knew  the  evacuation  of  New  York  was  now  inevitable, 


still  General  Washington  defended 

8  Born  of  Irish  parents,  Alexander 
Craydon  took  part  in  the  battle  of 
Long  Island.  He  was  captured  at 
Harlem  Heights.  He  wrote  a  volume, 
intituled  “  Personal  and  Revolution¬ 
ary  Memoirs,”  which  is  very  inter¬ 
esting. 

9  John  Byrne,  born  in  Ireland,  was 
a  private  of  the  line.  He  was  cap¬ 
tured  and  confined  on  board  the  in¬ 
famous  Jersey  prison  ship.  The  Eng¬ 
lish  Admiral  offered  him  a  large  bribe 
and  speedy  promotion  to  desert  his 
adopted  country.  Byrne  answered  by 
ihouting :  “Hurrah  for  America!” 


it,  in  accordance  with  the  decision 

For  this  he  was  subjected  to  the  most 
cruel  tortures,  an  account  of  which 
he  afterwards  gave ;  but  he  remained 
true  to  the  last,  and  lived  to  see 
America  a  free  nation. 

10  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  ix.,  chap, 
iv.,  p.  96. 

11  See  Cyrus  R.  Edmund’s  “  Life  and 
Times  of  General  Washington,”  Vol. 
i.,  chap.  xv.  to  xviii. 

12  See  “The  Annual  Register”  for 
the  year  1776,  Vol.  xix.  The  History 
of  Europe,  chap,  v.,  pp.  165  to  175. 

P 


BATTLE  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


211 


of  his  council  of  war,  and  until  he  could  ascertain  the  determination  of 
Congress.  Having  only  7,700  men  under  his  command,  still  with  great 
address.13  ho  held  the  city  for  a  considerable  time.  His  opinions  were 
so  judiciously  urged  upon  Congress,  that  he  received  a  reply,  which 
authorised  him  to  leave  no  part  of  his  army  in  New  York  a  moment 
longer  than  was  proper  for  the  public  service.14  After  the  disastrous 
battle  on  Long  Island,  thinking  the  Americans  were  awed  by  the  power 
of  England,  Lord  Howe  offered  to  treat  with  them  as  rebels,  not  doubt¬ 
ing  but  they  would  submit  to  whatever  terms  he  should  propose.  With 
such  an  object  in  view,  his  prisoner  General  Sullivan  was  selected  to 
bear  a  vague  message  to  Congress,  which  he  presented  on  the  2nd  of 
September  ;  and,  at  length,  it  was  resolved  to  send  a  committee  of  their 
body  to  learn,  whether  Lord  Howe  had  any  authority  to  treat  with 
persons  authorised  by  them,  what  that  authority  was,  and  to  hear  his 
propositions.15  Edward  Rutledge,  Benjamin  Franklin,  and  John 
Adams,  were  the  delegates  sent  to  wait  upon  him.  Those  negotiations 
resulted  in  nothing,  because  the  Americans  insisted,  that  England 
should  acknowledge  their  national  independence,  and  such  an  admission 
exceeded  the  powers  entrusted  to  Lord  Howe.16 

After  some  delay.  General  Howe  crossed  the  East  River  with  his 
large  army.  The  Americans  made  a  futile  effort  to  oppose  his  landing, 
and  then  directed  their  march  to  Harlem  Heights.  The  stores  and 
baggage  least  wanted  were  removed  beyond  Kingsbridge.  The  sick 
and  wounded  were  also  moved  to  the  New  Jersey  side  of  the  Hudson. 
The  Provincials  were  now  disheartened,  and  the  militia  began  to  desert 
their  devoted  commander,17  so  much  so,  that  the  Connecticut  contingent 
dwindled  down  from  six  to  two  thousand  in  a  few  days.  Luckily  for  the 
safety  of  the  faithful  soldiers,  the  British  general  had  little  knowledge 
of  their  actual  defencelessness,  while  obeying  a  man  whose  noblest  traits 
of  character  were  developed  under  the  most  depressing  circumstances. 
Fearing  to  risk  a  battle  with  his  ill-armed  and  disheartened  troops, 
Washington  judiciously  resolved  to  construct  lines  of  defence,  which  the 
English  might  find  it  difficult  to  attack.  On  the  15th  of  September,  the 
English  took  possession  of  New  York,  General  Washington  having 
previously  retired  within  his  lines  at  Kingsbridge.18  Afterwards,  until  the 
end  of  that  war,  the  British  remained  masters  of  the  city. 

Meantime,  the  patriots  to  the  north  of  New  York  occuiped  a  strong  posi¬ 
tion,  known  as  the  Heights  of  Harlem.  On  an  elevation  over  two  hundred 
feet  above  the  Hudson,  the  steep  summit  was  crowned  with  a  five-sided 


13  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  ix.,  chap, 
vi.,  pp.  118  to  122. 

14  This  correspondence  is  to  be  found 
in  the  American  State  Papers. 

15  See  “  The  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1776,  Vol.  xix.  The  History 
of  Europe,  chap,  v.,  pp.  173,  174. 

18  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 


of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  ix.,  chap, 
vi.,  pp.  108  to  118. 

17  See  Jared  Sparks’  Life  of  George 
Washington,”  chap,  viii.,  pp.  194  to 
196. 

18  See  Horace  Walpole’s  “Journal 
of  the  Reign  of  King  George  the 
Third,  from  the  year  1771  to  1783,’* 
Vol,  ii.,  p.  83. 


212 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


earthwork,  mounting  thirty-four  cannon.  This  fort  was  designated  Fort 
Washington.  Still  higher  on  the  summit  of  the  Palisades  in  New 
Jersey,  Fort  Lee  had  been  erected,  and  General  Greene  had  been 
assigned  there  to  command.  General  Putnam  was  engaged  between 
both  points  to  obstruct  the  river  navigation,  against  an  expected 
approach  of  the  English  fleet  from  below.  Instead  of  attacking  them 
in  this  condition,  and  overwhelming  them  in  their  unpreparedness, 
Howe  procrastinated.  After  a  month’s  delay,  that  supine  commander 
began  to  move  against  the  Americans,  then  partially  reinforced.  At 
length,  a  part  of  the  British  fleet  sailed  up  the  Hudson,  and  a  strong 
force  landed  at  Frog’s  Neck,  where  the  East  River  opens  into  Long 
Island  Sound.19  Here,  the  American  outposts  gave  them  a  very  warm 
reception.  They  were  obliged  to  retreat,  however,  and  evacuate  New 
York  Island. 

When  General  Howe  had  descended  on  Frog’s  Neck,  he  resolved  to 
throw  himself  behind  the  American  lines,  having  in  view  the  cutting  off 
their  communication  with  the  interior.  This  plan  was  well  conceived, 
but  executed  in  so  sluggish  a  manner,  that  Washington  had  time  to 
remove  from  Kingsbridge,  and  to  take  up  a  strong  position  on  the  right 
of  the  English  army.  His  dispositions  were  judiciously  conceived  and 
ably  executed.  The  American  commander  had  brought  his  army  from 
Kingsbridge  and  across  the  Harlem  River.  He  had  entrenched  himself 
on  Fordham  Heights,  still  facing  the  British  advance.  Skirmishes  only 
were  ventured  upon  by  the  vastly  superior  army  of  Howe,  and  these 
most  frequently  redounded  to  the  advantage  of  the  Americans.20  It  was 
now  clear  to  them,  that  they  fought  under  a  most  able  general,  who  for 
two  whole  weeks  kept  the  British  army  at  bay.  Retreat  was  resolved 
upon,  however  but  Washington  chose  a  new  position  on  White  Plains, 
in  the  State  of  New  York. 

'  The  British  had  now  resolved  to  storm  the  fortifications  at  Fort  Wash¬ 
ington,  and  for  this  purpose,  a  ship  of  war  moved  up  the  Hudson  to  cut  off 
communication  between  the  American  forces  on  either  bank.  On  the 
28th  October,  Howe  appeared  in  presence  of  the  American  army.  On 
Chatterton  Hill,  Washington  had  constructed  field  works  to  cover  his 
right.  These  were  attacked  by  the  British  and  Hessians.  They  were 
bravely  met  by  McDougal,  with  fourteen  hundred  men,  keeping  the 
position  for  a  considerable  time,  against  a  vastly  superior  force.  After 
a  short  but  severe  action,  the  Americans  were  driven  from  that  post,21 
with  a  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  of  less  than  one  hundred  men,  while 
that  of  the  English  and  Hessians  was  at  least  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
nine.22  But,  as  the  day  was  far  spent  when  this  was  accomplished  the 


19  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol  ix.,  chap, 
x.,  pp.  174  to  176. 

20  See  Marshall’s  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,  Commander-in-Chief  of 
the  American  Forces,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap, 
viii. ,  pp.  572  to  578. 


21  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,  Vol.  i.,  chap,  ix.,  pp 
210,  211. 

22  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  ix.,  chap, 
x.,  pp.  180  to  182. 


TAKING  OF  FORT  WASHINGTON. 


213 


English  general  postponed  an  engagement  until  the  following  morning, 
still  waiting  for  reinforcements  from  New  York,  although  his  army  was 
nearly  equal  to  the  entire  American  forces  in  front.  During  the  dark¬ 
ness,  having  caused  corn-stalks  to  be  pulled  up  from  the  roots, 
Washington  piled  them  together  with  the  lumps  of  earth  clinging  to 
them  and  sticking  outwards,  so  that  on  the  face  they  seemed  to  be  solid 
fortifications.  Behind  these  apparently  strong  redoubts  were  stationed 
defenders.  Deceived  by  such  stratagem,  General  Howe  was  afraid  to 
renew  the  attack  next  morning.  Meantime,  about  five  miles  distant, 
Washington  selected  a  much  stronger  position  on  the  heights  of  North- 
Castle,  and  these  were  fortified.  Thither  his  guns,  stores,  baggage  and 
men  were  removed  ;  while,  undecided  as  to  his  course  of  action,  after 
waiting  a  few  days,  General  Howe  ingloriously  retreated  to  Kingsbridge, 
thus  failing  to  seize  the  line  of  the  Hudson  Ri' er.  Moreover, 
Washington  improved  the  opportunity  thus  afforded  him,  by  fortifying 
the  lower  part  of  the  river  and  the  Highland  passes  from  West  Point 
to  Peekskill,  where  the  Hudson  flows  through  the  most  romantic 
mountain  defiles.23  The  strong  post  held  was  known  as  Fort  Washington, 
and  it  was  entrusted  to  the  command  of  Colonel  Magaw.  Meanwhile, 
the  Jersey  side  of  the  Hudson  was  secured  by  a  portion  of  the  army,  to 
provide  for  an  anticipated  retreat  into  the  State  of  New  Jersey ;  for, 
Washington  knew  not  the  design  of  General  Howe,  whether  to  advance 
directly  on  him,  or  to  adopt  the  better  plan  for  intercepting  him  from 
a  retreat,  in  the  direction  of  Philadelphia.24 

To  create  a  diversion,  Sir  Guy  Carleton  from  Canada  was  to  sail  by 
way  of  Lakes  Champlain  and  George,  and  thence  he  was  to  march 
through  a  desert  region  on  Albany,  whence  he  could  descend  the 
Hudson  to  co-operate  with  the  movements  of  General  Howe.25  The 
Americans  had  a  small  flotilla  on  Lake  Champlain,  while  the  British  had 
vessels  prepared  in  sections,  which  were  joined  together,  and  on  these 
their  soldiers  were  embarked.  The  Continentals  were  there  commanded 
by  Benedict  Arnold,  who  displayed  his  habitual  courage  and  fertility  of 
resources,  both  in  the  dispositions  made  to  receive  the  enemy,  and 
afterwards,  in  escaping  from  the  most  imminent  danger.26  Under  great 
disadvantages,  the  Americans  fought  an  action  on  the  Lake,  with  great 
courage  and  ability,  October  11th  1776 ; 27  but,  outnumbered  two  to  one, 


23  See  Weems’  “  History  of  the  Life 
of  Washington,”  New  York,  1806,  8vo. 

24  See  A.  Bancroft’s  “  Essay  on  the 
Life  of  General  Washington,”  Worces¬ 
ter,  1807,  8vo,  and  Boston,  1844. 
Two  Volumes  12mo. 

25  General  Carleton  had  applied  for 
4,000  men,  as  an  addition  to  his 
force :  but  the  king  knowing  that 
2,000  Highlanders  had  exhausted  the 
recruiting  in  Scotland,  recommended 
to  Lord  North  to  engage  foreigners, 
at  a  reasonable  charge,  and  as  he  re¬ 


marked,  “for  they  do  not  cause  an 
additional  half-pay  when  the  business 
shall  be  completed,” — “  The  Corres¬ 
pondence  of  King  George  the  Third 
with  Lord  North,  from  1768  to  1783,” 
Vol.  ii..  Letter  378,  p.  45. 

26  See  “  The  Annual  Register,”  for 
the  year  1777,  Vol.  xx.  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  i.,  pp.  1  to  6. 

27  See  John  Adolphus’  “  History  of 
England  from  the  Accession  of  King 
George  the  Third,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap 
xxix.,  pp.  393,  394. 


214 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


they  lost  more  than  half  their  vessels,  escaping  with  the  remainder  to 
Ticonderoga.  This  latter  place  was  not  attacked,  however,  for  General 
Gates,  who  commanded  in  the  northern  department,  had  strengthened 
the  American  positions.  Crown  Point  was  occupied  by  Carleton  for  a 
short  time,  but  further  enterprise  for  that  season  was  abandoned  by  the 
British. 

Meanwhile,  Howe  had  followed  the  American  general,  and  remained 
two  days  in  his  presence,  arranging  his  batteries  and  preparing  for  a 
pitched  battle,  which  he  intended  to  fight  on  the  31st  October.28  The 
subaltern  American  leaders  were  over-confident  in  the  strength  of  Fort 
Washington,  and  long  as  possible,  their  council  of  war  resolved  on  its 
maintenance.  Washington  held  a  different  opinion,  regarding  its 
capabilities  as  a  position  for  resistance.  Orders  were  given  to  have  all 
the  stores  which  were  deemed  notnecessary  for  its  defence  removed  thence 
in  case  of  an  attack.  In  like  manner,  provision  was  made  for  evacuating 
Fort  Lee.  A  heavy  fall  of  rain  during  the  interval  induced  General  Howe 
to  defer  the  combat  until  November  1st.  Meantime,  Washington  sent 
General  Putnam  with  5,000  troops  to  the  Jerseys,  while  General  Lee 
was  directed  to  remain  with  about  7,500  Continental  troops  and 
militia,  in  presence  of  the  enemy  ;  for  Howe’s  movements  were  not 
sufficiently  decisive  of  what  course  he  intended  to  pursue.  Generals  Lee 
and  Greene  had  resolved  on  holding  Fort  Washington  to  the  last 
extremity,  and  reinforcements  chiefly  of  Pennsylvanians  were  ordered  by 
them,  contrary  to  their  Commander-in-Chief’s  express  instructions.  In 
the  meantime,  Washington’s  attention  was  mainly  directed  towards 
effecting  a  secure  retreat  in  the  direction  of  New  Jersey;  for,  with  his 
weakened  resources,  he  could  not  reasonably  expect  to  cope  with  the 
enemy.  General  Howe  had  now  finished  the  erection  of  his  batteries 
on  Fordham  Heights,  and  he  had  succeeded  in  bringing  up  securely  some 
armed  flat-boats,  during  the  night  of  the  15th,  when  these  passed  the 
American  position.29  General  Magaw  made  the  best  disposition  possible 
for  a  defence,  but  his  lines  were  too  far  extended,  and  these  had  to  be 
covered  on  many  sides.  On  the  16th  of  November,  a  furious  can¬ 
nonade  commenced  from  the  Heights  at  Fordham,  and  it  continued 
until  noon.  Tho  Hessians  and  the  Highlanders  then  commenced  the 
j  attack.  These  troops  met  with  a  stubborn  resistance,  but  with  a  vast 
i  numerical  superiority  of  force,  they  forced  their  way  over  rocky  heights 
■  and  felled  trees.  The  first  and  most  daring  movement  of  the  British 
was  conducted  by  General  Knyphausen,  against  the  American  garrison 
at  Fort  Washington.30  It  was  held  by  three  thousand  men  and  gal¬ 
lantly  defended,  but  it  was  carried  by  assault,  with  the  heavy  loss  of 


28  See  De  Witt’s  “Histoire  de 
Washington  et  de  la  Fondation  de  la 
Republique  des  Etats-Unis.”  Paris, 
1859,  8vo. 

29  Their  various  posts  are  distinctly 
shewn  on  a  Map  of  Operations  after 
the  Evacuation  of  New  York,  injured 


Sparks’  “Writings  of  George  Wash¬ 
ington,”  &c.,  Vol.  iv.,  p.  160. 

30  See  W.  Bodham  Donne’s  “  Cor¬ 
respondence  of  King  George  the  Third 
with  Lord  North  from  1768  to  1783,” 
Vol.  ii..  Letter  380,  pp.  48,  49. 


STATE  OP  THE  AMERICAN  ARM V. 


215 


more  than  500  men  by  the  victors.  The  American  loss  was  150,  in  killed 
and  wounded  ;  but,  2,600  were  captured,  with  the  loss  of  their  artillery 
and  some  of  their  best  arms.  Then,  General  Howe  sent  Lord  Corn¬ 
wallis  with  an  army  across  the  Hudson  to  Fort  Lee,  which  was  imme¬ 
diately  evacuated.31 

By  this  time,  the  Howes  had  lost  many  men,  and  they  pressed  for 
recruits  from  the  administration.  The  Government  determined  to  carry 
on  a  vigorous  campaign,  and  they  now  treated  for  a  force  of  10,000 
Wirtembergers  and  other  Germans.32  Owing  to  such  adverse  circum¬ 
stances,  Washington  determined  to  evacuate  the  peninsula  of  New 
York,  and  to  carry  out  a  war  of  posts  on  the  mainland.  Meantime, 
Howe  retired  into  New  York  Island,  giving  six  thousand  men  to  Corn¬ 
wallis,  whom  he  sent  in  pursuit  of  an  army,  too  weak  and  dispirited  to 
resist  an  immediate  onslaught.33 

Now  it  was  found,  that  the  design  was  to  cut  Washington  off  from 
Philadelphia,  where  the  American  Congress  had  assembled.  Then,  the 
General  broke  up  his  camp  on  the  Hudson,  and  by  forced  marches,  he 
manoeuvred  so  as  to  take  the  lead  with  his  small  army  of  four  thousand 
men.  General  Charles  Lee  was  ordered  to  join  with  his  division  near 
Northcastle.  He  disobeyed  that  order,  notwithstanding,  hesitating 
and  delaying  until  the  close  of  the  year.  Then  carelessly  separating 
himself  from  the  army,  he  was  surprised  and  made  a  prisoner  by  the 
enemy.34  At  that  time,  Lee  had  the  repute  of  being  an  able  general, 
and  this  mischance  caused  great  depression  among  the  Colonists,  while 
it  proportionally  elated  their  invaders.35 

This  was  a  period  of  great  distress  for  the  Americans.  Their  con¬ 
ventions  and  assemblies  in  the  States  of  New  York,  New  Jersey  and 
Pennsylvania  were  disturbed  and  disorganized,  in  consequence  of  the 
military  movements.  Apathy  and  despair  prevailed  among  the  people, 
while  fearing  the  chances  of  war,  many  prominent  persons  made  their 
submission  to  the  royalists.  In  addition  to  the  regular  army,  a  multi¬ 
tude  of  loyalists,  as  the  American  English  partisans  were  called,  came 
flocking  from  all  quarters  to  their  camp.  The  rumours  spread  by  the 
royalists  were  also  most  damaging  to  the  national  cause.  During  their 
movements,  the  condition  of  the  American  army,  now  greatly  de¬ 
moralised,  was  most  deplorable.  It  was  reduced  in  numbers,  clothed 
in  rags,  broken  in  spirit,  destitute  of  clothing,  tents,  cavalry  and 
artillery.  Discouraged  by  their  various  reverses  and  despairing  of  the 


31  See  John  Adolphus’  “  History  of 
England  from  the  Accession  of  George 
the  Third,”  Vol.  ii. ,  chap,  xxix.,  p.  431. 

32  See  Horace  Walpole’s  “Journal 
of  the  Reign  of  King  George  the 
Third,  from  the  year  1771  to  1783,” 
Vol.  ii.,  p.  92. 

33  See  Glass,  “  Washingtonii  Vita,” 
New  York,  1835,  8vo. 

34  See  John  Adolphus’  “  History  of 


England,  from  the  Accession  of  King 
George  the  Third,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap, 
xxix.,  pp.  433,  434. 

35  “  It  has  lately  been  discovered, 
that  while  detained  as  a  prisoner  of 
war,  Lee  was  concerned  in  a  plot  to 
betray  his  country.” — John  R.  G. 
Hassard’s  “  History  of  the  United 
States  of  America,”  chap,  xxvii.,  p. 
182. 


216 


I  KISH -AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  T1IE  UNITED  STATES. 


result,  their  forces  deserted  in  great  numbers. 39  At  this  time,  his  troops 
were  so  disheartened,  that  Washington  became  disgusted  with  the 
position  he  occupied,  yet  fortitude  never  failed  him.  Aware  that 
rumours  prejudicial  to  his  military  character  were  afloat,  and  that  his 
maligners  alleged  against  him  a  want  of  energy,  dash  and  enterprise, 
which  was  injurious  to  the  service,  he  is  said  to  have  desired  an 
honourable  death  in  the  ranks  of  the  enemy.  It  was  with  difficulty, 
that  his  aides-de-camp  and  friends  could  restrain  him  from  carrying 
out  that  fatal  resolution. 

Knowing  the  formidable  forces  against  which  he  was  obliged  to 
contend,  Washington  addressed  a  strong  letter  to  the  President  of 
Congress,  urging  the  inefficiency  of  militia  serving  for  short  terms,  and 
insisting  on  the  necessity  of  forming  a  permanent  army.  His  judgment 
and  reasoning  were  approved,  and  it  was  resolved  to  re-organize  his 
regiments  on  such  a  system.  The  ordinary  term  of  service  was  only 
for  a  year,  so  that  the  recruits  were  merely  becoming  soldiers,  when 
they  quitted  his  army.  As  to  the  militia,  they  left  the  service  when¬ 
ever  they  pleased.  In  compliance  with  his  suggestion,  Congress  now 
determined  to  enroll  eighty-eight  battalions,37  bound  to  serve  for  three 
years,  and  to  assign  landed  property  for  those  who  should  adhere  to 
their  standards,  until  the  conclusion  of  the  war. 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  disasters,  Washington’s  intrepid  fortitude 
filled  his  subordinates  with  astonishment.  He  kept  an  army  together,  and 
offered  resistance  to  the  enemy,  under  circumstances  more  adverse  than 
any  general  had  ever  before  experienced.  Notwithstanding  his  mind 
being  slow  in  operation,  and  little  aided  by  invention  or  imagination, 
it  was  usually  sure  in  calculation  and  in  drawing  conclusions.  Hence 
the  common  remark  of  his  officers,  regarding  advantages  he  derived 
from  holding  councils  of  war.  It  required  all  his  firmness  and  wisdom 
to  keep  his  army  from  disappearing  altogether,  while  effecting  his 
military  arrangements  and  improvements. 

With  a  large  force,  Lord  Cornwallis38  was  now  enabled  to  invade 
New  Jersey,  and  to  threaten  Philadelphia.  Ever  cautious,  vigilant  and 
enterprising,  Washington  was  undismayed,  however,  in  prospect  of  the 
dark  clouds  gathering  around  the  American  cause,  while  his  judgment 
was  clear  as  his  courage  was  cool  and  collected.  Meanwhile,  he  was 
obliged  to  retire  before  the  army  of  Cornwallis.  Nevertheless,  he  occupied 
the  best  positions  in  the  country,  during  that  retreat,  while  he  acted  with 


36  See  Gosch  “Washington  und  die 
Befreiung  der  Nord-amerikanischen 
Freistaaten.”  This  work  was  publish¬ 
ed  at  Giessen,  1815,  in  three  volumes, 
8vo. 

37  “  Massachusetts  Bay  and  Virginia 
were  the  highest  on  this  scale,  being 
to  furnish  fifteen  battalions  each ; 
Pennsylvania  came  next,  and  was 
rated  at  twelve ;  North  Carolina  nine, 
Connecticut  and  Maryland  eight  each  ; 


New  York,  and  the  Jerseys,  the  latter 
considered  as  one  Government,  were, 
in  consequence  of  their  present  situa¬ 
tion,  set  no  higher  than  four  bat¬ 
talions  each.” — “The  Annual  Regis¬ 
ter”  for  the  year  1777.  Vol.  xx.. 
History  of  Europe,  chap,  i.,  p.  9. 

38  His  actions  as  a  general  are  re¬ 
counted  in  Gleig’s  “  Lives  of  the  most 
eminent  British  Military  Com¬ 
manders,”  London,  1832. 


THE  BATTLES  OF  TRENTON  AND  PRINCE TOWN. 


217 


extraordinary  judgment  and  firmness  under  all  difficulties.39  A  grave 
crisis  then  seemed  impending,  and  Congress  made  every  effort  to  raise 
troops  for  his  support.  Foremost  among  the  recruits,  the  militia  of 
Pennsylvania  flocked  to  his  standard.  After  some  time,  Washington 
saw  himself  at  the  head  of  seven  thousand  men ;  yet,  it  was  a  force 
altogether  insufficient  to  cope  with  the  British.  That  army,  which  had 
failed  in  Canada  on  the  death  of  Montgomery,  with  the  remnants  of 
four  regiments,  marched  about  this  time  into  Washington’s  camp,  but  in 
a  wretched  plight.  It  was  now  commanded  by  General  Gates.  Under 
the  command  of  General  Sullivan,  Lee’s  division  also  arrived.  Notwith¬ 
standing  its  melancholy  condition,  the  American  army  was  enabled  to 
crawl  along  the  Delaware.  Still  were  they  pursued  by  Cornwallis,  with 
his  veteran  regiments,  in  greatly  superior  numbers  and  appointments. 
On  the  8th  of  December,  Washington  retreated  to  Trenton,  and  crossed 
the  Delaware  river  at  that  point,  securing  all  the  boats  on  the  Jersey 
side.  He  then  cantoned  his  army  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  The 
British  advanced  to  the  line  of  the  Delaware,  but  there  pursuit  ceased, 
for  they  had  resolved  on  taking  up  winter  quarters  at  that  late  season  of 
the  year.  They  went  quietly  into  cantonments,  awaiting  the  operation 
of  frost,  rain,  snow,  destitution  and  nakedness,  to  destroy  an  enemy, 
whose  forces  they  might  have  manfully  encountered  and  annihilated  at 
that  time.  Soon  afterwards,  a  brigade  of  three  regiments,  comprising 
1,500  Hessians,  took  possession  of  Trenton.  A  letter  intercepted 
by  Washington  conveyed  intelligence,  that  the  British  only  waited  for 
the  river  to  freeze  over,  as  now  seemed  likely,  when  they  were  to  form 
in  full  strength  and  push  onwards  to  Philadelphia.  Something  decisive 
should  then  be  attempted,  under  very  unfavourable  conditions.  Mean¬ 
time,  Congress  had  issued  from  Philadelphia,  on  hearing  news  of  the 
enemy’s  advance,  and  established  a  residence  at  Baltimore.  There  they 
passed  a  resolution,  which  made  Washington  a  military  dictator  for  six 
months. 

About  this  time,  General  Joseph  Reid  suggested  to  him  the  dispersed 
situation  of  the  British  army,  and  the  opportunity  afforded  for  striking 
a  blow,  which  might  retrieve  their  cause  in  public  opinion,  and 
even  recover  that  ground  which  had  been  lost.  His  suggestion  was 
approved  by  the  American  commander,  who  formed  the  daring  plan 
of  attacking  successively  all  the  British  posts  on  the  Delaware.  If 
successful  in  whole  or  in  part,  he  was  bound  to  erase  the  impression 
made  by  his  losses  and  retreat ;  he  should  also  compel  his  adversary  to 
act  on  the  defensive,  and  no  longer  to  cover  New  Jersey ;  while  it  was 
probable,  he  might  remove  from  Philadelphia  the  imminent  danger  that 
then  threatened  it.40 

The  time  of  service  for  numbers  among  his  troops  had  now  nearly 
expired  ;  and  so  miserably  equipped  were  they — especially  those  under 

39  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History  40  See  Gordon’s  “  History  of  the 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  ix.,  chap.  American  Revolution,”  Vol.  ii.,  p« 
xii.,  pp.  194  to  212.  319. 


IK1SH-AJIKRLCAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


218 


Sullivan — that  the  General  in  chief  could  not  greatly  hasten  matters  for 
the  enterprise  meditated.  Having  collected  some  boats,  he  choose 
Christmas  night,  while  ice  was  floating  in  the  river  and  snow  falling, 
to  collect  2,400  men,  about  nine  miles  above  Trenton.41  Notwithstanding 
his  great  desire  to  unite  secresy  with  despatch,  the  Tories  had  contrived 
to  forward  intelligence  of  Washington’s  movements  to  General  Grant 
commanding  at  Princetown  and  to  Colonel  Rahl  at  Trenton.  The 
American  General  boldly  determined,  however,  to  cross  the  Delaware, 
and  thus  attack  the  enemy  who  failed  to  attack  him ;  but  the  attempt  was 
made  under  great  difficulties,  and  the  passage  of  his  men  occupied  the 
whole  night.  When  formed  early  in  the  morning,  his  troops  moved  for¬ 
ward  in  two  columns,  under  Generals  Greene  and  Sullivan.  They 
reached  Trenton  about  eight  o’clock  on  the  morning  of  the  26th  of 
December.  General  Ewing,  at  the  head  of  the  Pennsylvania  militia, 
was  to  cross  the  river  a  mile  below  the  town,  to  secure  the  Assunpink, 
so  as  to  cut  off  retreat  in  that  direction.  The  Hessians  wei’e  astonished 
at  such  a  season  by  the  approach  of  an  enemy,  but  preparations  were 
made  for  a  defence  of  the  town.  Under  cover  of  a  snow  storm,  General 
Sullivan  drove  in  the  Hessian  pickets  at  one  end  of  the  town,  while 
Washington  dislodged  them  at  the  other.  They  then  retreated  into 
Trenton,  but  the  American  columns  pressed  on,  and  soon  captured  the 
cannon  planted  in  the  streets  to  oppose  them.  The  gallantry  of  Colonel 
John  Stark  was  conspicuous  in  this  engagement.  At  the  battle  of 
Trenton  and  crossing  of  the  Delaware,  Commodore  Thomas  Read42 
rendered  valuable  assistance,  while  commanding  a  battery  of  guns  made 
up  from  his  frigate,  and  with  which  he  raked  the  stone  bridge  across  the 
Assunpink.  After  an  obstinate  resistance,  the  Hessians  were  completely 
routed.  Their  leader  Colonel  Rahl  was  hit  by  a  musket  ball  and  fell 
from  his  horse  mortally  wounded.  Struck  with  terror,  the  Hessians 
now  turned  to  retreat  by  the  Princetown  Road ;  but,  they  were  inter¬ 
cepted  on  their  right  by  Colonel  Hand’s  riflemen,  and  on  the  left  by  the 
Virginian  corps.  Nothing  now  remained  for  them  but  an  unconditional 
surrender.  This  was  a  great  achievement  for  the  Americans,  and  it 
elated  their  people  throughout  the  colonies,  when  it  became  known  that 
after  the  battle  a  whole  brigade  of  Hessians  had  been  marched  prisoners 
to  Washington’s  camp,  and  afterwards  paraded  as  such  through  the 
streets  of  Philadelphia.  43 

Meantime,  Lord  Cornwallis  had  returned  to  New  York,  on  his  way 
home  to  England,  when  news  of  this  reverse  had  reached  him.  The 
British  troops  in  New  Jersey  were  now  ordered  to  concentrate  at 
Princetown,  and  he  returned  to  take  command,  while  General  Howe  was 


41  See  the  “History  of  New  Jersey,” 
p.  227. 

42  His  brother  James  also  fought 
gallantly  at  the  battle  of  Trenton. 
Afterwards  at  Princetown,  Brandy¬ 
wine  and  Germantown,  he  was  distin¬ 
guished,  and  for  his  bravery  he  was 


promoted  from  being  first  lieutenant 
to  the  rank  of  colonel.  See  Apple¬ 
ton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Bio¬ 
graphy,”  Vol.  v.,  p.  198. 

43  See  “  The  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1777,  Vol.  xx.,  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  i.,  pp.  14  to  17. 


THE  BATTLES  OF  TRENTON  AND  PRINCETOWN.  2iy 

expected  to  send  him  reinforcements.  On  the  2nd  of  January  1777, 
the  British  marched  to  Trenton,  and  Cornwallis  rested  for  the  night  in 
sight  of  the  American  lines.  He  was  at  the  head  of  a  very  superior 
force,  while  large  bodies  of  men  at  Princetown  were  then  ready  to  join 
him.  During  the  night,  finding  himself  in  a  position  of  extreme  peril, 
Washington  marched  his  army  around  that  of  Cornwallis,  and  at  sun¬ 
rise  on  the  morning  of  the  3rd,  he  reached  Princetown  There,  he  found 
the  British  reserves  starting  to  take  part  in  the  expected  battle  at 
Trenton.  A  severe  action  now  ensued,  and  early  in  the  engagement 
the  gallant  General  Hugh  Mercer 44  fell,  when  the  militia  he  com¬ 
manded  began  to  give  way.  Mounted  on  a  white  charger,  General 
Washington  then  rode  forward  to  restore  the  battle.  During  this 
crisis,  he  was  exposed  to  the  most  extreme  danger.  His  noble  example 
infused  a  new  spirit  among  the  men.  Moreover,  Colonel  John  Stark 
was  foremost  in  the  fight,  where  he  exhibited  all  that  daring  and 
intrepidity  peculiar  to  himself.45  Another  great  service  was  rendered 
by  Major  Kelly.46  who  demolished  the  bridge  over  Stony  Brook,  near 
Princetown.  in  the  face  of  Cornwallis’s  army.  Colonel  John  Nixon  and 
Captain  Moore47  also  greatly  distinguished  themselves  in  this  battle. 
After  an  obstinate  struggle,  the  Americans  remained  masters  of  the 
field.  The  British  who  escaped  fled  towards  Trenton  to  join  Lord 
Cornwallis.  The  loss  on  the  side  of  the  English  was  estimated  at  about 
200  in  killed  and  wounded,  about  230  being  made  prisoners,  of  whom 
fourteen  were  officers ; 48  while  the  Americans  only  lost  about  30 
men.49 

Soon,  however,  an  overwhelming  force  was  collected  to  meet  the 
Americans,  who  were  obliged  to  fall  back  upon  Morristown.51  Between 
that  place  and  the  Highlands  of  the  Hudson,  Washington  posted  his 
army  in  strong  positions.  In  some  of  the  colonies,  the  enlisting  of 
apprentices  and  of  Irish  indentured  servants  had  been  permitted,  with 
a  promise  of  indemnification  to  their  former  masters.  Thus,  in  the 
opening  season  of  1777,  reinforcements  began  to  arrive  from  various 
quarters.  Whereupon,  towards  the  close  of  May,  Washington  advanced 
his  posts  to  Brunswick,  and  fortified  them  along  a  chain  of  hills ;  while 


44  He  was  bom  in  Aberdeen,  Scot¬ 
land,  about  1720.  See  an  account  of 
him  in  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  iv.,  pp. 
300,  301. 

45  See  the  account  of  him  in  “New 
Hampshire  Worthies.” 

46  He  was  a  native  of  Ireland. 

47  He  was  born  in  Ireland. 

48  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Yol.  ix.,  chap, 
xiv.,  pp.  244  to  250. 

49  In  a  letter,  dated  December  27th 
1776,  and  addressed  to  the  President 


of  Congress,  Washington  describes 
the  battle  of  Trenton.  See  Jared 
Sparks’  “Writings  of  George  Wash¬ 
ington,”  &c.,  Vol.  iv.,  pp.  246  to 
249.  In  a  letter,  dated  January  5th 
1777,  he  describes  the  battle  of  Prince¬ 
town.  See  Ibicl.  pp.  « 58  to  261.  A 
map  at  p.  248  illustrates  the  battles  of 
Trenton,  Dec.  26th,  and  of  Prince- 
town,  Jan.  23ro. 

51  While  here,  on  22uj  of  January 
1777,  Washington  appointed  Stephen 
Moylan  t-o  command  a  regiment  of 
dragoons  as  colonel.  See  Ibid.  p. 
293. 


220 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


in  that  position,  he  commanded  a  view  of  the  British  encampment.52 
Nevertheless,  without  risking  a  general  engagement,  for  which  his 
troops  were  altogether  unequal,  the  American  general  attempted  many 
daring  enterprises  during  the  winter,  so  as  to  keep  the  enemy  in  a 
constant  state  of  distress  and  insecurity,53  Except  New  Brunswick 
and  Perth  Amboy,  Cornwallis  deemed  it  necessary  to  relinquish  every 
other  post  in  New  Jersey.  Public  confidence  in  the  judgment  and 
practical  resources  of  Washington  was  now  greatly  restored ;  and 
accordingly,  the  members  of  Congress  returned  again  to  resume  their 
sittings  in  Philadelphia. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Distinguished  Uolunteers  arrive  from  Europe — Congressional  Commissioners  sent 
to  France — Ex-Governor  Tryon’s  Expedition — English  Plan  of  Campaign — 
General  Burgoyne  advances  towards  New  York  from  Canada — The  Battle  of 
Bennington — Defeat  and  Surrender  of  Burgoyne’s  Army — General  Howe’s 
Expedition — Battle  of  Brandywine— Capture  of  Philadelphia — Battle  of 
Germantown — The  Americans  Winter  at  Valley  Forge -The  Conway  Cabal. 

The  regards  of  all  lovers  of  liberty  in  Europe  had  been  directed  towards 
America,  from  the  very  commencement  of  that  heroic  struggle  which  had 
been  carried  on ;  while  numbers  of  brave  and  eminent  men  resolved  on 
sharing  the  trials  and  dangers  that  as  a  necessary  consequence  ensued.1 
Towards  the  close  of  1775.  Count  Casimir  Pulaski2  set  out  from  France 


52  See  “  The  Annual  Register,”  for 
the  year  1777,  Vol.  xx.,  The  History 
of  Europe,  chap,  vii.,  pp.  119,  120. 

53  The  despatches  of  Washington 
date  from  his  Head  Quarters  at 
Morristown,  N.J.,  from  January  7th 
1777,  to  the  28th  of  May  following. 

1  “  Joseph  Galloway,  a  native  of 
Maryland,  but  long  a  resident  of 
Pennsylvania  before  the  Revolution, 
was  one  of  the  best  informed  men  in 
the  colonies,  and  probably,  with  the 
exception  of  Franklin,  had  no  equal 
as  to  his  accurate  knowledge  relating 
to  the  general  condition  of  affairs  in 
the  country.  He  was  an  early  and 
active  sympathizer  in  the  American 
cause  until  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 

Bendence,  when  he  became  a  Loyalist. 

luring  a  visit  to  England  he  was  ex¬ 
amined  in  June  1779,  before  an  in¬ 
vestigating  committee  of  the  House  of 
Commons,  and  his  testimony  has  been 
frequently  published.  When  asked  as 
to  the  composition  of  the  Rebel  Army 
his  answer  was,  “  I  can  answer  the 


question  with  precision,  there  were 
scarcely  one-fourth  natives  of  Amer¬ 
ica;  about  one-half  Irish,  the  other 
fourth  were  English  and  Scotch.”  He 
might  have  stated  more  in  detail,  that 
the  fourth  part  was  composed  of  some 
English,  very  few  Scotch,  and  more 
Germans,  or  Dutch,  as  they  were 
called  from  Pennsylvania  and  the 
Valley  of  Virginia,  chiefly  under  the  com¬ 
mand  of  Muhlenberg,  and  these  formed 
the  Eighth  Virginia  Regiment.  I 
have  estimated  that  about  one-fourth 
of  all  the  American  officers  and  even 
a  larger  proportion  of  those  more 
trusted  by  Washington,  were  Irish  by 
birth  or  descent.” — Dr.  Thomas  Addis 
Emmett’s  Address  before  the  Amer¬ 
ican  Irish  Historical  Society,  January 
J  ,9th  1899. 

2  This  distinguished  soldier  was  born 
at  Winiary,  Poland,  March  14th  1748, 
and  already  he  had  a  distinguished 
military  career,  in  resisting  the  ene¬ 
mies  of  his  own  country.  See  Joubert, 
“  Les  Revolutions  de  Pologne  de  1767 
a  1775.” 


CONGRESSIONAL  COMMISSIONERS  SENT  TO  FRANCE.  221 

to  offer  his  services  to  Congress,  and  there  he  formed  the  Foreign 
Legion,  destined  to  furnish  very  effective  aid  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 
The  renowned  Polish  Patriot  Thadeus  Kosciuszko3  joined  the  American 
army  as  a  volunteer,  October  18th  1776,  and  subsequently  he  was 
appointed  military  engineer,  with  the  rank  of  Colonel.  Likewise, 
Baron  de  Kalb,  an  Alsatian,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  in  the  French 
service,  tendered  his  service  to  the  American  agents  Franklin  and  Silas 
Deane  in  Paris,  and  Congress  bestowed  on  him  the  rank  of  Major- 
General,  November  7th  1776.  He  arrived  in  America  about  the 
beginning  of  the  following  year.4  An  accomplished  and  experienced 
Prussian  officer,  Lieutenant  General  Frederick  William  Baron  de 
Steuben,  offered  his  services  as  a  volunteer,  and  in  1777  he  ari’ived  in 
New  Hampshire.5  Foremost  and  ever  to  be  remembered  among  those 
foreign  sympathisers  with  the  American  cause  was  the  French  Marie- 
Jean-Paul-Roch-Yves,  Gilbert  Motier  Marquis  de  Lafayette,6  then  only 
nineteen  years  of  age.  He  was  an  ardent  lover  of  liberty,  and  he  had 
already  embraced  a  military  career.  Having  purchased  a  ship  at  his 
own  expense,  Lafayette  sailed  for  America  to  offer  his  sword  without 
pay  to  the  Congress.  Having  many  obstacles  to  overcome,  in  the 
summer  of  1777  he  landed  at  Georgetown  in  Carolina.  Arriving  in 
Philadelphia  he  was  appointed  July  31st  Major  General  of  the 
American  Army,  by  an  eulogistic  resolution  of  Congress.  In  1777, 
Colonel  Thomas  Conway  had  been  induced  by  Silas  Deane  to  leave 
France  for  America.7  An  Irish  officer  in  the  service  of  Piedmont, 
Roche  Fermoy  also  volunteered  for  the  service.8  Many  other  volunteer 
soldiers  of  distinguished  birth  and  means  embarked  for  the  Colonies, 
expecting  to  receive  on  their  arrival  positions  of  rank,  which  the 
American  Commander  could  not  justly  assign,  without  giving  dis¬ 
pleasure  to  several  of  his  own  meritorious  officers,9 


3  See  Leonard  Chodzko’s  “  Histoire 
militaire,  politique  et  privee  de  Kos¬ 
ciuszko,”  and  “  Histoire  de  la  Revolu¬ 
tion  de  1794,”  par  un  Temoin  occu- 
laire.  Paris,  1797. 

4  See  an  account  of  him  in  Rev. 
J.  T.  Headley’s  “  Washington  and  his 
Generals.”  New  York,  1846. 

5  He  afterwards  became  Inspector- 
General  of  the  American  army.  See 
an  account  of  him  in  Sparks’  “  Amer¬ 
ican  Biography,”  and  written  by  Fran¬ 
cis  Bowen. 

6  His  career  has  been  set  forth  in 
“  Memoirs,  Correspondence  et  Manu- 
serits  du  General  La  Fayette,”  pub¬ 
lished  by  his  family  at  Paris  in  1837, 
1838,  six  volumes,  8vo. 

7  See  an  account  of  him  in  “  En¬ 

cyclopedia  Americana,”  Vol.  ii. ,  pp. 

398,  399. 


8  During  the  New  Jersey  Campaign 
of  1778,  he  was  at  the  head  of  the 
Corps  of  Observation,  appointed  to 
receive  and  communicate  reports  of 
the  enemy’s  movements  to  General 
Washington.  He  resigned  his  com¬ 
mission  afterwards  to  Congress,  and 
retired  to  France.  Then  he  published 
an  essay  on  “  The  Military  Resources 
of  Ireland.”  See  Thomas  D’Arcy 
McGee’s  “  History  of  the  Irish  Settlers 
in  North  America,”  chap.  viii. ,  p.  57. 

9  For  a  general  account  of  these, 
the  reader  may  consult  an  admirable 
work  of  the  Hon.  William  Sullivan — - 
nephew  of  General  John  Sullivan — 
and  United  States  Representative  for 
Boston.  It  is  intituled  “  Public  Men 
of  the  Revolution.”  To  it  has  been 
prefixed  a  sketch  of  the  author,  by 
John  T.  S.  Sullivan.  1  hilacteiphia, 
1847,  8vo. 


222 


IRISH-AM ERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


As  no  very  cordial  relations  had  existed  between  France  and  England 
at  this  time,  and  as  Franklin  while  in  England — with  a  clear  insight 
regarding  eventualities— had  sounded  the  disposition  of  the  French 
cabinet  through  their  ambassador  in  London  ;  acting  mainly  on  such 
advice,  Congress  had  resolved  on  sending  him,  with  Silas  Deane  and 
Arthur  Lee,  as  diplomatic  commissioners  to  negotiate  a  treaty ;  and 
accordingly,  leaving  the  United  States  in  October  17 76, they  had  reached 
Paris  before  the  end  of  that  year.10  They  desired  an  international 
alliance,  if  possible  ;  or  at  all  events,  they  hoped  to  obtain  aid  in  money, 
in  soldiers,  and  in  arms,  from  the  French  Government,  by  indirect  means. 
Those  Commissioners  attempted  likewise  to  engage  Spain  and  Holland 
on  their  side.  The  national  sympathies  of  France  had  been  long  enlisted 
on  the  side  of  America.11  The  time  was  well  employed,  however,  and 
especially  influential  and  earnest,  the  diplomatic  Benjamin  Franklin  ably 
represented  the  interest  of  his  country  in  Paris.12  Although  the 
American  Commissioners  were  kindly  received  in  France,  yet  did  King 
Louis  XVI.  and  his  cabinet  hesitate  to  conclude  any  formal  alliance 
which  should  involve  a  declaration  of  war  against  England. 

In  the  spring  of  this  year,  the  Americans  were  known  to  have 
collected  a  considerable  quantity  of  stores  at  Danbury,  Connecticut.1* 
The  ex -royalist  governor  of  New  York,  Tyron,  organised  an  expedition 
to  capture  them  in  the  month  of  April.  Accordingly,  having  assembled 
a  force  of  two  thousand  men,  he  landed  them  near  Norwalk,  on 
Long  Island  Sound.14  Thence  he  marched  to  Danbury,  which  he 
entered  on  the  26th  of  April,  and,  having  destroyed  the  magazines,  he 
set  fire  to  the  town.  Under  Generals  Wooster  and  Arnold,  a  militia 
force  was  hastily  assembled,  and  Tyron  was  three  several  times  attacked 
while  retreating  to  his  ships.  In  one  of  these  skirmishes  the  brave 
General  Wooster  was  mortally  wounded.  Tyron  escaped  to  his  ships, 
however,  but  with  a  loss  of  about  two  hundred  men.15  The  British  had 
collected  stores  at  Sagg  Harbour,  on  the  eastern  end  of  Long  Island.  At 
this  time,  General  Parsons  was  in  command  of  some  Connecticut  recruits 
at  Newhaven,  and  he  conceived  the  project  of  surprising  the  enemy.lft 
Accordingly,  in  the  month  of  May,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Meigs,  at  the 
head  of  nearly  two  hundred  men,  crossed  the  Sound  in  whale-boats. 
They  destroyed  a  quantity  of  stores,  burned  eleven  or  twelve  vessels ; 
they  killed  six  men,  and  took  ninety  prisoners.  Very  few  escaped  under 


10  An  interesting  account  of  these 
transactions  may  be  found  in  Jared 
Sparks’  Life  of  Benjamin  Franklin, 
prefixed  to  his  Collected  Works.  Vol. 
i.,  chaps,  ix.,  x.,  pp.  415  to  437. 

1 1  See  Henri  Martin’s  “  Histoire  de 
France,”  Tome  xvi.,  Septieme  Partie, 
Liv.  civ.,  p.  412. 

12  See  “Memoires  de  la  Vie  privee 
de  Benjamin  Franklin,  ecrits  par  Lui- 
Meme,  et  addresses  a  Son  Fils.” 
Published  at  Paris,  a.d.  1791.  8vo. 


13  See  “  The  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1777,  Vol.  xx.  The  History 
of  Europe,  chap,  vii.,  pp.  116  to  118. 

14  Benson  J.  Lessing's  “  Pictorial 
Field-Book  of  the  Revolution,”  Vol. 
i.,  chap,  xviii.,  pp.  401  to  410. 

15  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  ix.,  chap, 
xx.,  pp.  346  to  348. 

16  See  “The  Annual  Register”  for 
the  year  1777,  Vol.  xx.  The  History 
of  Europe,  pp.  118,  119. 


GENERAL  BURGOYNE  ADVANCES  ON  NEW  YORK.  223 


cover  of  the  night.17  Tn  fine,  the  Connecticut  band  safely  returned  and 
without  the  loss  of  a  single  man.  • 

In  the  spring  and  summer  of  1777,  vast  preparations  were  being 
completed  on  the  part  of  England,  to  subjugate  her  rebellions  colonists.18 
Every  effort  had  been  made  by  her  ministers  to  gain  recruits,  both  for 
her  army  and  navy.  On  the  kinglings  of  Germany  reposed  their  chief 
hopes  ;'9  and  by  force,  impressment,  theft  of  foreigners,  and  other 
means,  their  recruits  and  yagers  were  enlisted,  but  to  the  intense  disgust 
of  the  army  and  the  people.20  Numbers  of  vagabonds  and  loose  fellows 
were  added  to  a  force,  that  was  generally  discredited  in  Europe  as  in 
America ;  however,  to  the  credit  of  the  larger  German  states  of  the 
Empire,  be  it  stated,  that  Frederick  of  Prussia,  and  the  Court  of  Vienna 
in  the  name  of  Maria  Teresa  and  Joseph  the  Second,  threw  obstacles 
in  the  way  for  carrying  out  that  odious  traffic  in  human  blood.  Many 
of  the  recruits  deserted  before  they  had  been  well  embodied,  and  most 
of  them  were  driven  reluctantly  on  ship-board  by  sheer  force.21 

It  was  well  known  to  the  Americans,  that  an  expedition  had  been 
fitting  out  in  Canada,  which  was  destined  to  march  in  the  direction  of 
the  river  Hudson  and  New  York.  It  had  been  decided,  as  the  plan  of 
campaign  about  to  open  in  midsummer,  that  while  General  Howe 
should  leave  a  strong  force  in  New  York,  to  meet  an  advancing  army 
from  Canada,  he  should  conduct  a  still  larger  armament  to  effect  the 
capture  of  Philadelphia.  Both  these  movements  were  projected  so  as  to 
be  nearly  simultaneous.  Meantime,  the  American  general  kept  on  the 
watch  in  Jersey,  where  his  winter  quarters  were  set.  Another  small 
colonial  force,  chiefly  of  militia,  had  been  assembled  under  General 
Schuyler,  a  most  meritorious  officer.  He  remained  in  the  interior  of 
New  York,  to  oppose  the  expected  invasion  from  Canada.22  The  men, 
however,  were  very  badly  armed  and  equipped.  The  main  body  of 
2,500  men  commanded  by  General  St.  Clair  had  been  stationed  at 
Ticonderoga,  which  was  strongly  fortified.  There  the  military  stores 
were  imprudently  left,  by  directions  of  General  Schuyler. 

On  the  11th  of  June,  Congress  decreed  that  the  American  flag  should 
have  thirteen  stripes,  alternate  white  and  red,  to  represent  their  thirteen 


17  See  “The  Life  of  George  Wash¬ 
ington,  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
American  Forces,”  etc.,  by  Hon. 
John  Marshall,  Vol.  iii.,  chap,  ii., 
pp.  98  to  104. 

18  See  Dohenv’s  “  History  of  the 
American  Revolution,”  chap.  xi. 

19  Some  shameful  avowals  on  this 
subject  have  been  brought  to  light 
by  the  publication  of  Memoirs  and 
correspondence  of  public  men  who  were 
contemporaneous  with  this  period., 

20  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  ix.,  chap, 
xviii.,  pp.  313  to  317. 

21  “The  whole  number  of  recruits 


and  reinforcements  obtained  from  Ger¬ 
many  amounted  to  no  more  than 
thirty-five  hundred  and  ninety-six.  It 
is  noticable,  that  they  all  came  from 
Protestant  principalities ;  for  the 
landgrave  of  Hesse,  though  a  Roman 
convertite,  can  hardly  pass  for  a 
Catholic  Prince.  Besides,  the  British 
government,  from  its  constitution, 
preferred  the  employment  of  Protest¬ 
ants  in  the  army,  as  well  as  in  all 
other  departments.”  Ibid.,  pp.  317, 
318. 

22  See  Hon.  J.  Marshall’s  “  Life  of 
George  Washington,”  Vol.  iii.,  chap, 
i.,  pp.  3  to  5. 


224 


IKISlI-AMEKtCAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


states  ;  and  that  the  union  emblem  be  thirteen  stars,  white  in  a  blue  field, 
representing  a  new  constellation.23  Colonel  William  Barton  performed 
one  of  the  bravest  acts  recorded  in  the  American  Revolution.  On  the 
night  of  July  13th,  he  crossed  iSTarragansett  Bay  with  a  small  body  of 
men,  passed  three  British  frigates,  and  landed  at  the  shore,  about  one 
mile  distant  from  the  house  where  General  Prescott  was  sleeping.  By 
a  cunning  move,  he  eluded  the  guards,  and  arriving  at  the  door  of 
Prescott’s  house,  a  negro  attendant  shoved  his  head  through  a  panel  of 
the  door.  Prescott  was  carried  away  without  waking  the  guard.24 
Soon  afterwards,  the  British  willingly  exchanged  General  Lee  for  him. 

During  the  previous  winter,  Lieutenant-General  Burgoyne  with  the 
British  ministers  had  arranged  an  expedition,  of  which  he  was  to  have 
chief  command  on  returning  to  Canada,  whilst  he  was  to  supersede  Sir 
Guy  Carleton  in  the  military  direction.  Troops  began  to  arrive  there, 
during  the  spring  and  summer,  when  the  St.  Lawrence  was  free  from 
ice.  Desiring  to  co-operate  with  General  Howe,  LieutenantrGeneral 
Burgoyne  had  been  placed  at  the  head  of  a  considerable  army  at 
Quebec;26  this  was  to  move  southwards  by  way  of  Lake  Champlain, 
while  a  detachment  was  to  ascend  the  St.  Lawrence  river  so  far  as  Lake 
Ontario.  To  that  force  had  been  attached  bands  of  wild  Indians,  in 
great  numbers ;  while  Lord  George  Germain,26  the  secretary  of  the  war 
department,  and  King  George  III.  were  most  desirous  of  having  those 
ferocious  auxiliaries,27  to  the  great  dislike  of  humane  British  and  German 
officers  in  Canada.  While  that  expedition  marched  southwards  against 
St.  Clair,  a  force  of  3,700  regulars  and  militia  were  left  to  guard 
Canada.28  Meantime,  General  Burgoyne  issued  a  manifesto  to  the 
revolted  colonies,  accompanied  with  vain-glorious  threats  of  his  arms, 
which  could  only  diminish  the  lustre  of  his  success  if  he  obtained 
any,  and  which  were  sure  to  expose  him  to  derision  in  the  event 
of  a  failure.29  Having  proceeded  to  Lake  Champlain,  Burgoyne  met 
the  Indians  near  Crown  Point,  on  the  20th  June,  1777.  There 


23  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  ix.,  chap, 
xx.,  p.  352. 

24  For  this  intrepid  action,  Congress 
awarded  Colonel  Barton 'a  sword,  and 
a  tract  of  land  in  Vermont.  See  Ben¬ 
son  J.  Lossing’s  “  Pictorial  Field- 
Book  of  the  Revolution.”  Vol.  ii., 
chap,  iv.,  pp.  75  to  77. 

25  During  this  year,  the  number  of 
men  who  sailed  from  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland  for  Canada  amounted  to 
seven  hundred  and  twenty-six  ;  while 
three  thousand  two  hundred  and 
fifty-two  arrived  in  New  York. 

26  See  an  account  of  him  in  the 
“  Historical  and  Posthumous  Memoirs 
of  Sir  Nathaniel  William  Wraxall 
1772  -  1784,”  edited  by  Henry  B. 


Wheatley,  F.S.A.  Vol.  i.,  pp.  383, 
et  seq.  London,  1884,  8vo. 

27  Joseph  Brant,  the  Mohawk  war¬ 
rior,  had  been  engaged  by  the  secre¬ 
tary  to  rouse  the  fury  of  the  tribes  so  as 
to  make  them  clamour  for  leaders  of 
their  own,  and  who  would  be  sure  to 
indulge  them  in  all  their  excesses. 
See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States,”  Vol.  ix.,  chap, 
xviii.,  pp.  320  to  322. 

28  See  “  The  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1777,  Vol.  xx.  The  History 
of  Europe,  chap,  viii.,  pp.  144,  145. 

29  See  Horace  Walpole’s  “  Journal 
of  the  reign  of  King  George  the  Third, 
from  the  year  1771  to  1783,”  Vol.  ii., 
p.  130. 


Thaddeus  Kosciusko, 

Colonel of  Engineers  m  the  Con  Linen  ta /  Army. 


Marie-Jean Paul-Roch-Yves  Gilbert  Mover, 

Marquis  delafayelle,  Major-General  US  Army 


Nathaniel  Green 

Major-General  U  S  Army. 


George  Clinton. 

Governor  of  New  Ycr/( 


/ 


THE  BATTLES  AT  LAKE  CHAMPLAIN.  225 


he  halted  for  a  few  days,  to  make  the  necessary  dispositions  for 
an  attack  on  Ticonderoga30.  He  then  issued  orders  to  advance, 
and  while  their  naval  force,  moving  from  Canada  towards  New  York, 
kept  the  centre  of  Lake  Champlain,  the  British  land  force,  with 
order  and  caution,  marched  along  the  opposite  shores  in  separate 
divisions  towards  Fort  Ticonderoga  and  Mount  Independence31. 

On  the  5th  of  July,  Burgoyne  invested  Ticonderoga  with  some  of  the 
finest  regiments  in  the  British  service,  aided  by  those  mercenaries  from 
the  German  principalities.  Their  fleet  was  anchored  beyond  the  range  of 
guns  from  Fort  Ticonderoga.  That  place  was  overlooked  by  a  steep 
hill  called  Mount  Defiance.  By  incredible  efforts,  the  summit  was 
crowned  with  a  battery  of  artillery,  which  must  soon  have  demolished 
the  American  defences.  There  General  St.  Clair  was  posted,  and  calling 
a  council  of  his  officers,  they  decided  to  retreat  from  a  place  they  could 
not  expect  to  hold,  in  the  face  of  so  large  an  attacking  army32.  On  the 
6th  of  July,  they  retired  in  good  order.  St.  Clair  sent  off'  his  cannon 
and  stores  by  boats  to  Skenesborough,  now  Whitehall,  at  the  upper  end 
of  Lake  Champlain,  while  he  led  the  garrison  towards  the  same  point 
by  a  road  which  his  soldiers  had  helped  to  clear.  Meantime,  the  light 
division  of  the  British  Army  followed,  under  command  of  Generals 
Frazer  and  Reidesel33.  On  the  7th  of  July,  the  British  under  General 
Frazer  were  engaged  with  the  American  rear-guard  under  Warner  at 
Hubbardstown,  where  a  sharp  action  took  place.  Nobly  assisted  by 
Colonel  Eben  Francis  and  his  New  Hampshire  regiment,  Warner 
turned  on  them  and  commenced  the  attack.34  The  British  were  like  to 
have  been  worsted,  when  Reidesel  with  his  Germans  came  up  to  their 
assistance.  Howrever,  Colonel  Francis  held  the  enemy  at  bay  until  he 
fell,  In  this  action,  the  British  lost  183  men,  while  the  loss  on  the 
side  of  the  Americans  was  hardly  less  than  300.  The  American  boats 
were  followed,  and  two  were  captured  at  Skenesborough,  so  that  it 
became  necessary  to  destroy  the  rest.  With  two  thousand  excellent 
troops  under  his  command,  St.  Clair  continued  his  retreat,  rather 
favourably  circumstanced,  to  Fort  Edward  on  the  Hudson  River35. 
When  tidings  of  Burgoyne’s  advance,  and  the  retreat  of  the  Americans 
reached  Englaud,  great  joy  was  felt  by  the  Ministers,  and  by  the  Tory 
party  ;  while  ridicule  and  contempt  were  freely  expressed  for  the  vain 
attempts  of  the  Continentals  to  sustain  the  war  in  which  they  were 
engaged36.  The  signal  result  of  utter  failure  was  not  then  anticipated. 


30  See  John  Marshall’s  “Life  of 
George  Washington,”  Vol.  iii.,  chap, 
v.,  pp.  232  to  242. 

31  These  transactions  are  treated 
very  fully  in  George  Bancroft’s  “  His¬ 
tory  of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  ix., 
chaps,  xxi.,  xxii.,  pp.  359  to  387. 

32  See  Lord  Mahon’s  “  History  of 
England,  from  the  Peace  of  Utrecht,” 
Vol.  vi.,  chap,  lvi.,  p.  257. 

33  See  John  Marshall’s  “Life  of 


George  Washington,”  &c.,  chap,  v., 
pp.  233  to  249. 

34  See  Benson  J.  Lossing’s  “  Picto¬ 
rial  Field-Book  of  the  Revolution,” 
Vol.  i.,  chap,  vi.,  pp.  145,  146. 

35  See  George  Bancroft’s  “History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  ix.,  chap, 
xxii.,  pp.  369,  370. 

36  See  “The  Annual  Register”  for 
the  year  1777,  Vol.  xx.  “  History  of 
Europe,”  chap,  viii.,  p.  152. 

Q 


226 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


At  the  head  of  the  Hudson  river  General  Schuyler  was  stationed 
with  a  brigade  detached  from  Putnam’s  force  in  the  Highlands  and  a 
few  Continentals ;  so  that  the  united  American  army  did  not  number 
more  than  4,500  men,  very  badly  provided  against  an  assault  from  the 
finely-equipped  and  vastly  superior  force  opposed  to  them.  This  in¬ 
equality  of  numbers  caused  great  anxiety  to  the  American  General,  who 
sent  the  most  despondent  messages  to  Congress  regarding  his  situation. 
Notwithstanding,  he  manifested  signal  ability  under  such  circumstances. 
Everywhere  he  continued  to  obstruct  the  roads  through  the  wilderness 
by  felling  trees  across  them  and  by  breaking  down  the  bridges.  Thus, 
it  occupied  Burgoyne  no  less  than  twenty-four  days  before  his  army 
could  arrive  at  the  Hudson.  Besides,  he  found  the  whole  country 
wasted  on  his  line  of  march,  and  he  met  with  none  but  women,  who 
could  give  him  no  intelligence.37  On  their  march  towards  Fort  Edward, 
the  Indians  attached  to  the  British  army  attacked  a  house,  where  they 
murdered  several  persons,  and  carried  off  a  young  lady  named  Jenny 
McCrea,38  whom  they  afterwards  killed,  and  brought  her  scalp  into  the 
British  camp.39  This  inhuman  deed  caused  great  excitement  among 
the  people,  and  increased  still  more  t’  eir  animosity  against  the  British. 

Meantime,  the  best  possible  dispositions  for  his  army  were  made  by 
General  Schuyler.  The  Americans  crossed  the  river  Hudson,  and  had 
taken  post  at  Saratoga.  While  these  movements  were  in  progress, 
Colonel  Gausevoort  and  two  regiments  of  Continentals  occupied  the 
important  post  of  Fort  Schuyler,  now  called  Rome,  on  the  extreme 
border  of  the  New  York  settlements  at  that  period.  A  party,  com¬ 
posed  of  Regulars  Tories,  Canadians  and  Indians,  had  been  detached 
from  Burgoyne’s  army  to  capture  that  fort,  and  Colonel  St.  Ledger, 
who  conducted  them  through  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk,  laid  siege 
to  it  on  the  3rd  of  August.  The  settlers  in  that  district  assembled 
for  its  better  protection.  At  Oriskany,  which  was  near,  and  on  the  6  th 
of  August,  an  engagement  took  place,  the  British  having  surprised  a 
body  of  New  York  militia,  commanded  by  General  Herkimer,  who 
was  marching  to  relieve  the  besieged.  He  fell  mortally  wounded, 
and  many  of  his  men  were  killed.  A  number  of  the  prisoners  taken 
by  St.  Ledger  in  this  ambuscade  were  massacred  by  the  Indians. 
Owing  to  a  successful  sally,  however,  the  garrison  rescued  the  sur¬ 
vivors.40  A  few  days  afterwards,  General  Schuyler  sent  Arnold  with 
three  regiments  to  their  relief.  The  British  did  not  wait  his  arrival, 
but  abandoning  their  tents,  and  leaving  most  of  their  stores  and  bag¬ 
gage,  they  retreated  on  Oswego,  and  then  crossed  over  to  Canada. 
Numbers  of  the  Indians41  then  scattered  and  deserted  from  the  British. 


37  See  Horace  Walpole’s  “  Journal 
of  the  Reign  of  King  George  the 
Third,  from  the  year  1771  to  1783,” 
Vol.  ii.,  p.  132. 

38  She  had  been  engaged  to  be  mar¬ 
ried  to  a  loyalist  officer  then  in  Bur* 
goyne’s  army. 


39  It  must  be  observed,  that  General 
Burgoyne  manifested  his  horror  at 
this  tragic  deed  of  his  savage  allies. 

40  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  ix.,  chap, 
xxii.,  pp,  377  to  320. 

41  The  varying  relations  of  the 


THE  BATTLE  OP  BENNINGTON, 


227 


Foiled  by  the  retreating  Americans  in  front,  and  menaced  by  the 
militia  rising  on  his  flanks,  Burgoyne  despatched  eight  hundred  British 
and  German  regulars  on  his  left,  to  destroy  some  stores  collected  by 
the  Americans  at  Bennington,  Vermont.42  They  were  commanded  by 
Colonel  Baum,  but  on  their  march  and  six  miles  from  the  town,  those 
soldiers  were  met  by  Colonel  Stark,  who  was  at  the  head  of  a  New 
Hampshire  force,  largely  composed  of  Irish  Americans.  On  both  sides 
entrenchments  were  thrown  up,  the  leaders  of  each  army  sending  back 
for  reinforcements.  Notwithstanding,  on  the  16th  August,  Stark  drew 
out  his  men  in  four  columns,  and  made  an  attack  on  the  British  position.43 
This  engagement  was  bravely  contested,  and  it  lasted  for  two  hours. 
At  length,  the  British  gave  way.  Colonel  Breyman  having  then  arrived 
with  a  fresh  reinforcement,  the  battle  was  again  renewed.  Stark  was 
now  heavily  matched,  but  his  men  fought  with  great  obstinacy  and 
determination.  At  this  critical  moment,  Seth  Warner44  came  up  with  an 
American  detachment,  and  the  battle  was  restored.45  The  action  was 
continued  until  night  fell.  The  British  force  was  then  put  to  a  complete 
rout,  Breyman  retreating  in  confusion,  leaving  his  guns  and  baggage  on 
the  field.  Six  hundred  prisoners  were  taken  by  the  Americans,  as  also 
one  thousand  muskets  and  four  cannon.  While  the  English  lost  in  both 
engagements  about  200  men,  the  Americans  had  only  14  killed,  and  42 
wounded.46  Thus  Stark  was  victorious  in  the  two  engagements,  fought 
on  the  same  field  and  on  the  same  day. 

The  result  of  this  engagement  was  to  kindle  a  heroic  spirit  among 
the  militia  ;  although,  as  their  term  of  service  expired  on  that  very  day, 
several  of  the  men  insisted  on  marching  back  to  their  homes  Many 
remained,  however,  and  were  of  great  assistance  in  the  subsequent 
campaign.  Elsewhere,  also,  the  militia  were  rising  in  every  direction 
around  the  army  of  Burgoyne.  Their  supplies  were  thus  cut  off,  so 
that  for  a  considerable  length  of  time,  his  troops  had  no  other  meat 
supplies,  but  what  came  from  the  slaughter  of  their  horses.47  Notwith- 


British  and  Colonists  with  the  Indians 
are  very  intelligently  stated  in 
Auguste  Carlier’s  “  L’Histoire  du 
Peuple  Americam  depuis  la  Fonda- 
tion  des  Colonies  Angfeises  jusqu’  a 
la  Revolution  de  1776,”  Paris,  1864. 

42  Before  this  period,  it  had  not  a 
more  distinctive  recognition  in  the 
Union,  than  in  being  recognised  as 
the  “New  Hampshire  Grants;”  be¬ 
cause  under  Colonial  rule,  the  last- 
named  Colonists  had  claimed  it  as 
belonging  to  them,  by  royal  charter, 
although  the  New  Yorkers  had  con¬ 
tested  such  doubtful  claim,  by  virtue  of 
their  own  royal  charter.  Its  independ¬ 
ence  as  a  separate  province  had  been 
mooted,  when  the  Revolutionary  War 
broke  out,  and  for  a  time  it  set  that 


question  in  abeyance.  See  Rowland 
E.  Robinson’s  “Vermont:  a  Study 
of  Independence.”  Houghton,  MifHin, 
and  Co.,  Boston  and  New  York, 
1892,  8vo. 

43  See  Lord  Mahon’s  “  History  of 
England  from  the  Peace  of  Utrecht,” 
Vol.  vi.,  chap,  lvi.,  p.  264. 

44  The  hero  of  Crown  Point.  See 
Benson  J.  Lossing’s  “  Pictorial  Field- 
Book  of  the  Revolution,”  Vol.  i., 
chap,  xvii.,  pp.  392  to  398. 

45  An  Irish-American,  Colonel  Nich¬ 
ols,  shared  in  the  honours  of  this 
day. 

46  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  ix.,  chap, 
xxii.,  pp.  384  to  386. 

47  This  information  the  author  had — 


228 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


standing  General  Schuyler’s  able  manoeuvres,  yet  his  retreat  before 
the  greatly  superior  forces  of  Burgoyne  was  misunderstood,  and 
severely  criticised  ;  so  that,  fearing  the  loss  of  Philadelphia,  Congress 
sought  to  avoid  a  calamity  in  the  north,  which  his  prudence  happily 
averted.  General  Horatio  Gates  was  now  appointed  to  relieve  him  of 
the  command,  and  this  was  assumed  on  the  19th  of  August.48  Although 
having  a  fair  prospect  of  ultimate  success,  General  Schuyler  welcomed 
cordially  his  successor,  who  reaped  the  chief  glory  of  all  those  northern 
tactics  and  enterprises.  On  Sunday  September  14,  Burgoyne  crossed 
the  Hudson,  and  encamped  on  the  heights  and  plains  of  Saratoga,  near 
Fish  river,  and  within  a  few  miles  of  the  Continentals  under  General 
Gates.  On  the  19th,  the  English  having  advanced  somewhat,  an 
engagement  took  place.  The  American  sharpshooters,  moving  round 
to  their  flank  under  General  Morgan,  drove  back  the  advance  guard  of 
the  enemy.  Coming  on  the  main  body,  however,  they  w  ere  compelled 
to  retreat  until  reinforced,  when  they  again  pushed  on  to  the  attack. 
A  severe  conflict  ensued,  in  which  Morgan’s  riflemen  fought  bravely.  In 
this  engagement,  General  Benedict  Arnold  was  notably  distinguished.49 

The  American  army  had  taken  post  on  Bemis’  Heights  near  Saratoga, 
in  an  advantageous  position.  Here  a  serious  engagement  ensued.  The 
Polish  hero  Kosciuszko  had  acted  as  Gates’  engineer  in  throwing  up 
entrenchments.  While  waiting  the  British  attack,  General  Lincoln 
was  sent  with  a  detachment  to  harass  the  enemy  in  flank  and  rere.60 

The  English  were  now  in  great  distress,  and  to  retreat  from  their 
position  was  impossible.  The  militia  were  rising  behind  them,  and  they 
were  vigorously  pressed  in  tront  and  flank.  On  the  7th  of  October,  a 
severe  engagement  took  place  near  Saratoga,  which  resulted  in  favour 
of  the  Americans.61  They  captured  a  full  supply  of  ammunition,  and 
this  had  been  much  needed  by  their  army.  One  of  the  bravest  British 
Generals,  Frazer,  fell  mortally  wounded  m  that  engagement,62  and  his 
death  greatly  discouraged  the  army  to  which  he  had  been  attached. 
The  English  lost  about  600  men,  and  they  were  forced  to  retreat  to  their 
fortifications.  These  were  vigorously  assailed  by  the  Americans,  when 
the  Hessian  reserve  defending  them  threw  down  their  arms,  and  retreated 
precipitately  to  the  interior  of  their  camp.  Night  closed  that  contest, 
;  and  the  British  evacuated  the  position.  The  Americans  lost  300  men 
in  that  determined  conflict.  During  all  the  fight,  however,  neither 


now  many  years  ago — from  an  old 
man  in  Cullenagh,  Queen’s  County, 
Ireland,  and  whose  uncle  was  one  of 
the  many  Irish  soldiers  serving,  very 
reluctantly,  under  Burgoyne.  That 
old  man  had  the  fact  narrated  in 
the  text,  from  the  account  given  by 
that  soldier. 

48  See  “The  Annual  Register”  for 
the  year  1777,  Vol.  xx.  ;  History  of 
Europe,  chap.  ix. 


49  See  Charles  Knight’s  “  English 
Cyclopaedia,  Biography,”  Yol.  i.,  col. 
352. 

50  See  “  The  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1777,  Yol.  xx.  ;  History  of 
Europe,  chap.  ix. 

51  See  Lord  Mahon’s  “History  of 
England  from  the  Peace  of  Utrecht,” 
Vol.  vi.,  chap,  lvi.,  pp.  269  to  271. 

52  It  is  said  he  was  shot  by  an 
Irish  rifleman  named  Murphy. 


SURRENDER  OF  GENERAL  BURGOYNE. 


229 


Gates  nor  Lincoln  appeared  in  the  field  This  engagement  was  an¬ 
nounced  everywhere  as  a  glorious  victory. 58  It  gave  also  great  encourage¬ 
ment  to  recruiting.  On  the  9th  of  October,  Burgoyne  retreated  to 
Saratoga  and  proceeded  to  fortify  his  camp.  Here  the  British  were 
constantly  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  American  batteries,  while  the  rifle¬ 
men  of  General  Morgan  did  great  execution. 

Meantime,  Sir  Henry  Clinton  was  expected  to  create  a  diversion,  and 
to  co-operate  with  an  army  from  New  York.  The  news  of  their  advance 
had  reached  General  Gates  from  the  i*ere ;  but  it  was  kept  from  the 
knowledge  of  Burgoyne,  who  was  now  closely  hemmed  in  on  every  side. 
Under  the  leadership  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  3,000  of  the  British,  with 
Commodore  Hotham’s  squadron,  advanced  up  the  Hudson  to  attack 
the  Americans,  who  were  under  the  command  of  two  distinguished 
Irish-American  brothers,  also  named  respectively  Generals  George54  and 
James55  Clinton.56  Both  of  these  were  stationed  at  Fort  Clinton  and 
Fort  Montgomery,  which  were  situated  on  the  Hudson,  about  fifty  miles 
above  New  York.  •  The  forts  were  in  an  unfinished  state,  and  their 
garrisons  were  weak,  being  defended  by  only  five  hundred  men,  chiefly 
militia.  Their  English  namesake,  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  with  an  army  of 
three  thousand  men  and  a  formidable  fleet,  sailed  up  the  Hudson  to 
attack  them.  Both  were  invested  and  assailed  simultaneously  by  land 


83  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  ix.,  chap, 
xxiv.,  pp.  414  to  419. 

54  Although  the  younger  of  the  two 
brothers,  George  held  there  the  chief 
command.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Congress  of  1776,  when  he  was  ap¬ 
pointed  Brigadier- General.  His  popu¬ 
larity  and  influence  were  unbounded 
in  New  York.  He  was  Governor  of 
the  State  for  eighteen  years,  having 
been  first  elected  in  1777,  and  after¬ 
wards  he  continued  by  triennial  election 
until  1795.  In  1805,  he  was  chosen 
Vice-President  of  the  United  States, 
and  he  died  at  Washington  in  1812, 
while  still  in  possession  of  that  high 
office,  aged  seventy-two.  See  “  Irish 
Celts,”  sub  voce. 

55  He  was  the  son  of  Colonel  Charles 
Clinton,  born  in  Longford,  a.d.  1690, 
and  an  Irish  emigrant  who  settled  in 
Ulster  County,  New  York,  a.d.  1719. 
He  figured  in  the  French  Colonial 
war.  His  son  James  was  born  in 
1736.  In  early  life  he  possessed  few 
adventitious  aids  to  success  except  an 
excellent  education,  a  gift  which 
he  shared  in  common  with  his  most 
distinguished  brothers.  Evincing  an 
inclination  for  a  military  life,  he  was 
appointed  in  1756  an  ensign  in  a 


militia  regiment,  from  which  rank  he 
rose  in  1758  to  a  lieutenancy,  and 
in  1759  to  a  captaincy.  In  1763,  he 
was  elevated  to  the  post  of  captain- 
commandant  of  the  four  companies 
raised  to  defend  the  Western  frontiers 
of  New  York,  and  in  1774,  he  be¬ 
came  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Second 
regiment  of  militia  in  his  native 
country.  In  the  French  war,  he 
participated  in  the  capture  of  Fort 
Frontenac,  and  won  a  reputation  for 
gallantry,  resolution  and  military 
skill.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  he 
married  a  Miss  de  Witt,  and  retired 
to  private  life.  But,  like  other 
veterans  of  that  contest,  when  the 
Revolutionary  war  became  inevitable, 
he  cheerfully  resumed  his  old  profes¬ 
sion,  and  prepared  to  shed  his  blood 
for  freedom.  Congress  immediately 
gave  him  the  commission  of  a  colonel, 
and  subsequently,  in  1776,  that  of  a 
brigadier.  He  afterwards  attained 
the  rank  of  major-general.  Clinton 
served  in  the  expedition  against  Cana¬ 
da,  under  Montgomery.  He  died  in 
1812,  in  the  seventy-fifth  year  of  his 
age.  See  Ibid. 

56  See  “  The  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1777,  Vol.  xx.  ;  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  ix.,  p.  174. 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


230 


and  water.  When  summoned  to  surrender,  the  brothers  replied,  that 
they  would  hold  the  forts  to  the  death.  James  commanded  at  Fort 
Montgomery ;  while  George  was  over  the  garrison  in  Fort  Clinton.57 
Campbell  led  the  attack  against  Fort  Montgomery  on  the  6  th  of  October. 
In  the  onset,  he  was  killed.  By  sheer  force  of  numbers,  the  garrisons 
were  overpowered  after  losing  half  their  men.  When  the  enemy  rushed 
into  the  fort,  Colonel  McCleary,  a  brother-in-law  to  the  Clintons,  and  an 
officer  named  Humphrey,  turned  back  to  back  and  defended  themselves 
desperately.  They  were  assailed  on  all  sides,  and  undoubtedly  must 
have  been  killed,  but  a  British  senator  who  witnessed  their  spirit  and 
bravery  cried  out  that  it  should  be  a  pity  to  kill  such  brave  men.  The 
soldiers  then  rushed  on  and  seized  them,  and  brought  them  prisoners  before 
the  British  General.58  The  Americans  were  obliged,  however,  to  retreat 
from  Forts  Clinton59  and  Montgomery.  The  two  brothers  Clinton 
escaped,  and  after  a  series  of  adventures  which  reads  more  like  romance 
than  reality,  they  arrived  in  safety  among  their  rebel  friends.  In  this 
struggle,  the  British  lost  140  men,  while  the  Continentals  acknowledged 
a  loss  of  300  men.60  During  the  advance  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  Kingston 
in  New  York  was  burned  by  the  British,  on  the  15th  of  October. 

During  the  night  after  his  defeat,  Burgoyne  fell  back  to  the  heights 
in  the  rere  of  Saratoga,  expecting  he  should  be  atttacked  there  by  the 
Americans.  However,  Gates  only  sent  detachments  round  his  position, 
and  these  were  directed  to  threaten  his  retreat.  At  length,  his 
provisions  being  nearly  exhausted,  while  his  army  was  enclosed  on  every 
side,  no  option  remained  for  Burgoyne  but  surrender.  He  was  granted 
honourable  terms  by  General  Gates,  anxious  to  hasten  that  result,  before 
Sir  Henry  Clinton  could  push  his  way  onward  to  the  American  lines.61 
On  the  17th  of  October,  to  the  number  of  nearly  6,000,  among  whom 
were  over  2,400  Hessians  or  Germans,  Lieutenant-General  Burgoyne 
and  his  army  were  obliged  to  capitulate,  as  the  American  General 
Gates  had  hemmed  them  in  with  a  greatly  superior  force.62  The  British 
marched  down  from  the  heights,  and  at  the  verge  of  the  river  laid 
down  their  arms.03  The  spoils  acquired  by  the  Americans  were  42 


57  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  ix.,  chap, 
xxiv.,  pp.  412  to  414. 

58  See  Rev.  J.  T.  Headley’s  “Wash¬ 
ington  and  his  Generals,”  Vol.  ii., 

p.  206. 

59  Before  evacuating  this  defensive 
position,  the  last  shot  from  an  Amer¬ 
ican  gun  was  fired  by  a  brave  Irish 
woman,  nicknamed  Captain  Molly, 
and  the  wife  of  a  cannonier.  The 
following  year,  after  her  husband  had 
been  killed  at  the  battle  of  Mon¬ 
mouth,  she  served  his  cannon  with  a 
skill  and  courage  that  commanded 
the  admiration  and  rewards  of  General 
Washington  and  his  army.  See  these 


Earticulars  related  and  illustrated  in 
ossing’s  “  Pictorial  Field-Book  of 
the  Revolution,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  vii., 
p.  164,  and  chap,  xiii.,  pp.  361,  362. 

60  In  “  The  Writings  of  George 
Washington,”  etc.,  edited  by  Jared 
Sparks,  Vol.  v.,  there  is  a  Plan  or 
Map  of  Forts  Clinton  and  Mont¬ 
gomery  on  the  Hudson  River,  at  p. 
90. 

6 1  See  “  The  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1777.  Vol.  xx.  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  ix.,  pp.  155  to  174. 

62  See  David  Ramsey’s  “  History  of 
the  American  Revolution.”  Vol.  ii., 
p.  367.  Philadelphia,  8vo. 

63  The  American  army  was  drawn 


GENERAL  HOWE’S  EXPEDITION.  231 

cannon  and  4,000  muskets.  When  the  British  army  dressed  in  their 
shining  uniforms  filed  past  the  tent  of  Gates  on  the  morning  of  Bur- 
goyne’s  surrender  as  prisoners,  they  gazed  with  astonishment  upon  the 
ragged  and  torn  battalions  of  the  Americans.  And  conspicuous  among 
all  others  stood  Morgan’s  brigade  of  Irish  riflemen,  their  hunting  shirts 
stained  and  faded  by  the  dust  and  smoke  of  battle,  and  their  flag,  upon 
which  was  written  “Liberty  or  Death,”  tattered  and  rent  by  bullets 
into  streaming  shreds.  Nixon’s  and  Learned’s  brigades  were  in  the 
same  plight.  This  was  a  blow  severely  felt  by  the  British,  as  it 
supplied  the  Continentals  with  artillery,  muskets,  ammunition  and  mili¬ 
tary  stores,  of  which  they  stood  much  in  need.64  In  addition,  it  greatly 
weakened  the  means  of  the  English  government,  and  distracted  those 
efforts  and  counsels  relied  upon  for  success  in  the  succeeding  cam¬ 
paigns;  while  the  confidence  and  elation  felt  in  Great  Britain  gave 
place  to  dejection  and  grief,  when  news  arrived  of  Burgoyne’s  surrender. 
An  effort  had  been  made  by  General  Carleton  to  favour  his  retreat ; 
and  for  that  purpose,  he  marched  from  Canada  with  2,000  men,65  but 
on  learning  the  result,  he  was  obliged  to  return.  This  was  one  of  the 
most  decisive  victories  of  the  Revolution,  and  it  had  a  very  inspiring 
effect  in  the  cause  of  liberty  throughout  the  country.  Meanwhile, 
having  received  intelligence  of  Burgoyne’s  surrender,  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
retreated  in  haste  to  New  York,  having  dismantled  those  forts  he  had 
^  taken  on  the  Hudson. 

For  a  long  time,  Washington  was  uncertain  regarding  the  anticipated 
movements  of  Lord  Howe,  who  had  a  large  army  in  New  York,  and 
under  his  immediate  command.  But,  according  to  his  usual  indolence, 
instead  of  taking  advantage  of  the  unprovided  state  of  the  Americans, 
he  wasted  April,  May,  and  the  greater  part  of  June,  before  he  had  made 
all  preparations  required  for  the  coming  campaign;  After  an  ineffective 
attempt  to  cut  off  Sullivan’s  division  from  Washington’s  army,  and  a 
ridiculous  demonstration  before  the  lines  at  Middlebrook,  the  British 
ingloriously  retired  with  their  greatly  superior  forces.66  At  length, 
General  Howe  and  a  large  British  force  had  crossed  over  to  Staten 
Island,  on  the  30th  of  June,  and  embarked  on  board  the  fleet.67  As 


up  in  two  parallel  lines,  and  between 
them  the  English,  German,  and  Hes¬ 
sian  troops  marched  to  the  tune  of 
“  Yankee  Doodle,”  according  to  the 
statement  of  Sergeant  Lamb,  who 
published  a  very  interesting  “  Journal 
of  the  American  War,”  Dublin,  1809. 

64  By  the  old  narrator  already  al¬ 
luded  to,  the  writer  of  this  History 
has  been  informed,  that  as  the  greater 
number  of  those  who  fought  under 
General  Burgoyne  belonged  to  regi¬ 
ments  recruited  in  Ireland,  his  sur¬ 
render  was  to  them  a  cause  for 
rejoicing  rather  than  for  regret.  Great 
i  umbers  of  the  prisoners  most  willingly 


joined  the  Americans,  while,  owing 
to  their  experience  and  regular  discip¬ 
line,  they  rendered  most  effective  aid 
in  many  succeeding  battles  fought 
during  the  Revolutionary  War.  In¬ 
deed,  as  deserters  from  the  English 
colours,  few  of  these  ever  returned 
again  to  Ireland. 

65  See  Horace  Walpole’s  “Journal 
of  the  Reign  of  King  George  the 
Third,  from  the  year  1771  to  1780,” 
Yol.  ii.,  p.  159. 

66  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  ix.,  chap, 
xx.,  pp.  349  to  353. 

67  See  “  The  Annual  Register  ”  for 


232 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


their  destination  lay  southwards,  Washington  divined  their  object  was 
to  attack  Philadelphia.  Accordingly,  he  proceeded  thither  by  forced 
marches.  Hardly  had  he  11,000  effective  men  under  his  command. 
During  these  movements,  Commissary-General  Charles  Stewart08  served 
with  distinction  on  Washington’s  staff,  and  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
he  was  engaged  most  zealously  for  the  cause. 

While  Howe  evacuated  Jersey,  and  left  seventeen  battalions,  some 
cavalr)r  and  all  the  provincials  at  New  York,  under  General  Clinton,  he 
embarked  with  forty-six  battalions  and  two  regiments  of  cavalry  for 
Philadelphia.69  With  his  much  inferior  army,  Washington  on  the  24th 
of  August  paraded  that  city,  and  endeavoured  to  make  the  greatest 
possible  display,  so  as  to  control  and  intimidate  many  of  the  disaffected 
inhabitants.70  Numbers  of  these  were  Tories,  and  many  others  had 
been  opposed  to  a  war,  which  they  thought  must  be  attended  with 
unsuccessful  issues.  After  much  uncertainty  regarding  the  British 
design,  and  the  movement  of  their  fleet  from  New  York,  news  reached 
Washington  that  their  ships  had  been  seen  at  the  Capes  of  the  Delaware. 
Then  their  destination  seemed  no  longer  doubtful.71  Meantime, 
General  Howe  with  18,000  men72  landed  at  the  head  of  Chesapeake  Bay 
in  Maryland.  There,  on  the  25th  of  August,  the  men  were  set  on 
shore.73  On  the  3rd  of  September,  two  divisions  under  Cornwallis  and 
Knyphausen  began  their  march  towards  Philadelphia.  The  American 
general  at  first  took  up  a  post  behind  Red  Clay  creek ;  but  afterwards, 
by  a  well  directed  movement,  he  fell  back  on  high  grounds  above 
Chad’s  ford,  and  on  the  north  side  of  the  Brandywine  River.74  Wash¬ 
ington  made  the  best  dispositions  he  could  to  meet  the  advancing  army, 
although  his  own  was  greatly  inferior  in  numbers  and  in  arms.  A 
battery  of  cannon  and  a  good  parapet  guarded  the  ford;  while  Brigadier 
General  John  Armstrong75  and  the  Pennsylvania  Militia  were  placed 


the  year  1777.  Vol.  xx.  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  vii.,  pp.  120  to  128. 

68  He  was  bom  in  the  County  of 
Donegal,  Ireland,  1729,  and  in  1750, 
having  emigrated  to  America,  he  be¬ 
came  a  Deputy-Surveyor  General  of 
the  Pennsylvania  province.  In  1774, 
he  was  a  member  of  the  first  New 
Jersey  Convention,  and  in  1775,  a 
delegate  to  its  first  Provincial  Con¬ 
gress.  He  was  appointed  Colonel 
of  the  first  Regiment  of  Minute  Men 
raised  in  that  State,  and  then  he  was 
placed  over  the  Second  Regiment  of 
the  Line.  After  the  war,  in  1784-5, 
he  was  a  representative  in  Congress 
from  New  Jersey.  See  Appleton’s 
“  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Biography.” 
Vol.  v.,  p.  683. 

69  See  “  Correspondence  of  Charles, 
First  Marquis  of  Cornwallis,”  edited 
with  Notes  bv  Charles  Ross,  Esq. 


Vol.  i.,  chap,  ii.,  p.  29.  Published  in 

three  volumes.  London,  1859,  8vo. 

70  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  ix.,  chap, 
xxiii.,  p.  393. 

71  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  x.,  p. 
247. 

72  According  to  Sir  William  Howe’s 
own  “  Narrative,”  &c.,  he  had  only 
about  14,000  men. 

73  See  Lord  Mahon’s  “  History  of 
England  from  the  Peace  of  Utrecht,” 
Vol.  vi.,  chap,  lv.,  p.  240. 

74  See  “  The  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1777,  Vol.  xx.  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  viii.,  pp.  128  to  130. 

75  He  was  born  in  the  north  of  Ire¬ 
land,  and  having  early  emigrated  to 
America,  he  served  with  distinction  in 
the  war  with  France  1755-6.  He  served 
at  Fort  Moultrie.  After  the  Revolu- 


BATTLE  OP  BRANDYWINE.  233 

there  to  defend  it,  on  the  left  of  that  position.  To  General  Sullivan, 
with  six  brigades,  had  been  confided  the  charge  on  the  right,  and  these 
were  stationed  in  echelons  along  the  river.  The  selected  field  of  battle 
was  about  thirty  miles  south  from  Philadelphia.  The  American  general 
had  sent  word  to  General  Sullivan  to  cross  the  Brandywine,  at  a  higher 
ford,  but  this  order  was  disobej/ed;  while  the  failure  to  do  so  overthrew 
Washington’s  design,  and  exposed  the  right  wing  of  his  army  to  manifest 
danger.70  On  the  11th  of  September,  both  armies  met  and  engaged 
there  in  an  obstinate  encounter.  General  Knyphausen  was  directed  to 
move  with  his  Hessians  in  front  to  the  attack  ;  while  Lord  Cornwallis 
made  a  detour  higher  up,  in  order  to  outflank  the  Americans.77  Thus 
it  was  hoped  to  prevent  their  anticipated  retreat  on  Philadelphia, 
Henry  Knox’s  artillery  played  with  considerable  effect  on  the  advancing 
columns;  while  Sullivan,  Wayne,  Conway,  Armstrong,  Nash,  Max¬ 
well,  M'Dougal  and  Reed  fought  bravely  during  this  encounter. 
The  celebrated  and  brave  general,  Anthony  Wayne,"8  who  commanded 
the  Pennsylvania  Line,  was  placed  to  defend  Chad’s  ford,  which  he  did 
with  the  most  gallant  resistance  possible.79  The  Marquis  de  la  Fayette 


tionary  war  was  over,  he  was  sent 
to  Congress,  and  he  held  many  local 
offices.  He  died  in  Carlisle,  Pa., 
March  9th  1795.  See  Appleton’s 
“  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Biography,” 
Yol.  i.,  pp.  91,  92. 

76  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  ix.,  chap, 
xxiii.,  pp.  396,  397. 

77  See  Lord  Mahon’s  “  History  of 
England  form  the  Peace  of  Utrecht,” 
Vol.  vi.,  pp.  241,  242. 

78  He  was,  likewise,  as  an  Irish- 
American,  a  member  of  the  Friendly 
Sons  of  St  Patrick.  This  benevolent 
Society  had  been  formed  at  Phila¬ 
delphia  before  the  Revolution  broke 
out,  and  it  met  without  interruption 
until  near  the  time  when  the  British 
took  possession  in  1777.  After  that 

eriod  no  meetings  were  held  until 
eptember,  1778.  Several  members 
in  the  public  service  were  at  that 
time  noted  as  absent  in  camp  or 
absent  at  sea.  At  a  meeting  held 
June  17th,  1779,  at  which  General 
Wayne  was  present,  a  resolution  was 
adopted,  “that  such  members  of  the 
society  as  are  officers  in  the  army 
shall  not  be  subject  to  fine  for  ab¬ 
sence  while  in  service  in  the  field.” 
The  society  embraced  in  its  ranks 
many  prominent  men,  consisting  of 
Irishmen  bom  or  their  descendants  in 
America.  The  first  elected  President 
was  William  West  from  July  1774  to 


June  1776.  To  him  succeeded  Ben¬ 
jamin  Fuller  from  1776  to  1779. 
Among  the  members  were  Robert 
Morris,  the  eminent  patriot  and  finan¬ 
cier ;  John  Dickinson,  author  of  “The 
Farmer’s  Letters ;  ”  General  John 
Cadwalader,  of  the  Revolutionary 
army;  Governor  Richard  Penn;  Wil¬ 
liam  Bingham,  afterwards  United 
States  Senator  from  Pennsylvania,  a 
man  of  high  social  position ;  General 
John  Shee,  of  the  Revolutionary 
army ;  William  Hamilton,  of  the 
Woodlands,  one  of  the  largest  landed 
proprietors  in  Pennsylvania  at  the 
time  of  the  Revolution ;  Judge  Rich¬ 
ard  Peters ;  Captain  John  Barry,  of 
the  Continental  navy  ;  Thomas  Fitz- 
simons,  member  of  Congress  from 
Pennsylvania ;  General  Edward  Hand, 
General  William  Irvine,  Major  Gene¬ 
ral  Knox,  General  Walter  Stewart, 
General  William  Thompson,  Major 
General  Anthony  Wayne,  Colonel 
Stephen  Moylan,  Colonel  John  Patton, 
Colonel  Francis  Nichols,  Colonel 
Francis  Johnston,  Colonel  Lambert 
Cadwalader,  Richard  Bache,  son-in- 
law  of  Franklin,  and  many  others. 
See  the  account  contained  in  Thomp¬ 
son  Westcott’s  “  History  of  Phila¬ 
delphia  from  the  Time  of  the  First 
Settlements  on  the  Delaware  to  the 
Consolidation  of  the  City  and  Dis¬ 
tricts  in  1854.” 

79  Colonel  Alexander  Lowry  was  an 


234 


IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


fought  on  this  day  with  determined  bravery,  and  he  received  a  severe 
wound,  as  did  also  General  Woodford.  General  Sullivan,  who  com¬ 
manded  on  the  American  right,  moved  with  his  three  divisions  to  inter¬ 
cept  Cornwallis;  but  he  was  unable  to  withstand  the  onset,  and  his 
troops  fled  in  confusion.  Then  Wayne  was  obliged  to  abandon  his  post 
and  Greene  brought  up  his  reserve  to  cover  the  retreat.  Colonel  Thomas 
Butler80  was  distinguished  for  his  rare  intrepidity, in  rallying  a  retreating 
detachment  at  Brandywine ;  and,  for  this  effort  he  was  thanked  by 
Washington  on  the  field.  For  a  long  time,  General  Wayne  held 
Chad’s  Ford ;  but  in  the  heat  of  the  engagement,  Knyphausen’s  divi¬ 
sion  crossed  the  river,  and  a  strong  detachment  also  threatened  the 
rear  of  the  Americans.  However,  these  made  a  well-ordered  retreat, 
and  they  were  not  pursued.  In  the  general  confusion  which  ensued, 
Conway’s  brigade  stood  firm.  Sullivan,  who  had  a  horse  shot  under 
him,  and  Lafayette  joined  it.  Both  exerted  themselves  valiantly  to 
retrieve  the  disaster,  until  no  further  hope  of  success  remained.  How¬ 
ever,  Washington  came  with  two  brigades,  and  their  approach  checked 
the  British  pursuit.81 

Defeated  on  the  banks  of  the  Brandywine  stream,  Washington  was 
obliged  to  retreat,  after  he  had  lost  1,000  men  in  killed  and  wounded. 
The  loss  of  Sir  William  Howe’s  army  was  stated  by  himself  as  amount¬ 
ing  to  less  than  100  killed  and  400  wounded.82  Among  them  were 
fifty-eight  officers.  The  Americans  retired  at  first  to  Chester  ;  and  on 
hearing  of  their  defeat,  Congress  ordered  Putnam  to  send  forward 
1,500  Continental  troops  with  all  possible  expedition  to  the  relief  of 
Washington.  The  available  militia  were  summoned,  also,  to  muster 
for  the  emergency.  Next  day,  the  Americans  fell  back  on  Phila¬ 
delphia.83  They  continued  to  confront  the  army  of  Howe,  which  moved 
onward  compactly  and  with  caution,  never  sending  a  detached  party 
beyond  supporting  distance.  The  Americans  held  Fort  Mifflin,  on  an 
island  in  the  Delaware,  and  a  few  miles  below  Philadelphia,  as  also 
Fort  Mercer,  nearly  opposite  and  on  the  eastern  bank ;  while  these 
obstructions  prevented  the  British  fleet  from  sailing  up  with  supplies 


Irishman  by  birth ;  be  was  a  cordial 
hater  of  monarchy,  a  determined  foe 
to  England,  and  an  enthusiastic  re¬ 
publican.  He  advocated  a  separation 
from  England  from  the  first,  and  he 
commanded  the  Donegal  men  belong¬ 
ing  to  Lancaster  County,  Pennsyl¬ 
vania,  at  the  battle  of  Brandywine. 
He  received  many  appointments  of 
honour  in  his  adopted  State. 

80  He  was  brother  to  Colonels  Rich¬ 
ard  and  William  Butler,  and  after¬ 
wards  for  his  bravery,  he  also 
obtained  the  same  militaiy  rank  in 
the  American  army.  He  was  the  son 
of  Irish  parents,  and  born  in  Pennsyl¬ 
vania,  1754.  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclo¬ 


paedia  of  American  Biography,”  Vol. 

1.,  pp.  480,  481. 

81  See  George  Bancroft’s  “History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  ix.,  chap, 
xxiii.,  pp.  396  to  399. 

82  Such  was  his  official  return  as 
published  in  the  London  Gazette.  In 
the  “Writings  of  George  Washing¬ 
ton,”  as  edited  by  Jared  Sparks,  may 
be  seen  in  Vol.  v.,  Maps  illustrating 
the  Battle  of  Brandywine,  Military 
Movements  in  Pennsylvania,  and  Plan 
of  the  battle  of  Germantown,  pp.  58, 
66,  86. 

83  See  John  Marshall’s  “  Life  of 
George  Washington,”  Yol.  iii.,  chap. 

111.,  p.  154. 


CAPTURE  OP  PHILADELPHIA. 


235 


for  Howe’s  army.  Too  full  of  confidence  in  his  position,  on  the  20th  of 
September,  General  Anthony  Wayne  was  attacked  during  night, 
by  the  British  under  Grey.  His  order  was  issued  to  give  no  quarter, 
and  accordingly  one  hundred  and  fifty  soldiers  were  inhumanly 
massacred.  The  British  killed,  wounded,  or  took  as  prisoners  at  least 
300.84 

On  the  approach  of  Lord  Cornwallis,  Washington  was  obliged  to 
evacuate  Philadelphia,  and  to  retire  upon  Germantown,  about  six 
miles  westward.  In  the  meantime,  the  members  of  Congress  had 
moved  in  the  first  instance  to  Lancaster,  and  afterwards  to  York. 
On  the  27th  of  September,  the  British  occupied  Philadelphia.85  A 
surprise  was  now  attempted  by  the  Americans.  At  Germantown, 
Pennsylvania,  both  armies  met  on  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  October.86 
The  British  were  commanded  by  General  Howe,  and  the  Americans 
were  under  the  command  of  Washington.  After  the  first  fierce  onset, 
the  English  army  began  to  give  way.  They  rallied,  however,  and 
checked  the  assault,  under  cover  of  a  dense  fog,  and  on  a  site  having 
many  strong  stone  enclosures.  After  a  determined  resistance,  the 
Americans  were  forced  to  yield  ground,  having  lost  1,000  men  in  that 
engagement,  while  the  loss  of  the  British  was  estimated  at  600. 

The  22nd  October,  Count  Donop  with  1,200  Hessians  attacked  Fort 
Mercer,  but  he  was  repulsed  with  a  loss  of  400  of  his  men  killed.  The 
fleet  opened  fire  on  Fort  Mifflin,  when  two  of  the  ships  were  destroyed 
during  the  defence,  which  had  been  gallantly  sustained.  Land  batteries 
were  afterwards  erected,  and  after  a  bombardment  lasting  for  several 
days,  both  forts  were  nearly  destroyed,  The  Americans  then  evacuated 
them,  and  they  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  British.  River  communication 
between  the  English  fleet  and  army  in  Philadelphia  was  thus  opened.87 

On  the  15th  of  December,  the  American  army  retired  into  winter 
quarters,  at  Valley  Forge,  south  of  the  Schuylkill  river.  During  that 
month,  the  army  numbered  between  11,000  and  12,000  :  of  these,  how¬ 
ever,  more  than  2,000  were  unfit  for  duty.  When  they  arrived  at  Valley 
Forge,  the  soldiers  erected  barracks  on  the  plan  of  a  regular  city.  They 
were  utterly  destitute  of  almost  everything  necessary  to  support  life.88 
They  had  not  even  ordinary  clothing,  and  many  of  them  were  compelled  to 
go  barefoot  over  the  frozen  ground  for  want  of  shoes.  There  were  few  if 
any  blankets ;  and  a  lack  of  nourishment  or  of  proper  covering  sent  hun- 


84  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Yol.  ix.,  chap, 
xxiii.,  p.  402. 

85  See  Lossing’s  “  Pictorial  Field- 
Book  of  the  Revolution,”  Yol.  ii., 
chap.  xii. 

86  See  “The  Annual  Register”  for 
the  year  1777,  Yol.  xx.,  chap,  vii., 
pp.  132,  133. 

87  Several  interesting  reminiscences 
of  events  and  distinguished  persons  in 


Philadelphia,  after  the  entrance  of  the 
British  army,  and  to  the  time  of  their 
leaving  it,  as  related  by  eye-witnesses, 
may  be  found  in  John  F.  Watson’s 
“  Annals  of  Philadelphia,  being  a 
collection  of  Memoirs,  Anecdotes,  and 
Incidents  of  the  City  and  its  Inhabit- 
'  ants  from  the  Days  of  the  Pilgrim 
Founders,”  pp.  681  to  691. 

88  See  “  The  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1777,  Vol.  xx.  The  “  History 
of  Europe,”  chap,  vii.,  p.  140. 


236  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

dreds  to  the  hospital  This  soon  became  so  pestilential,  that  soldiers 
rather  preferred  dying  in  the  open  air.  On  the  first  of  February  follow¬ 
ing,  4,000  soldiers  were  unfit  for  service,  and  the  dissolution  of  the  army 
was  threatened  ;  for  notwithstanding  their  devotion  to  the  Commander- 
in-chief,  and  the  great  cause  he  maintained,  desertions  became  numerous, 
and  only  the  most  heroic  resolution  could  sustain  those  who  hoped  for 
ultimate  success.89 

Twenty  miles  from  the  American  camp,  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia, 
lay  thousands  of  British  troops,  well  housed,  well  clothed,  and  well  pro¬ 
visioned.  Taking  detachments  of  his  brigade,  Wayne  made  many 
excursions  in  quest  of  provisions,  and  he  often  forayed  to  within  sight  of 
the  spires  in  Philadelphia.  The  brigades  of  Conway,  Maxwell,  McIntosh, 
Learned  and  Poor,  whose  ranks  were  well-filled  with  Irish  and  Irish- 
Americans,  bore  their  privations  with  heroic  fortitude,  as,  indeed,  did  all 
the  sufferers  atY  alley  Forge.  The  Commissary  Department  was  unable 
to  procure  supplies  ;  the  people  were  unwilling  to  sell  their  goods  and 
provisions  for  almost  worthless  paper;  and,  as  supplies  could  not  be 
obtained,  the  dissolution  of  the  army  and  the  end  of  the  rebellion 
seemed  inevitable.  To  prevent  this,  Congress  issued  an  order,  requir¬ 
ing  each  State  to  furnish  a  certain  quantity  of  beef,  pork,  flour,  corn, 
forage  and  other  articles,  which  were  to  be  deposited  at  such  places  as 
the  commander-in-chief  should  determine.  A  fixed  valuation  was  to  be 
given,  and  it  was  hoped  that  Congress  would  be  able  to  keep  the  army 
together  until  spring.  That  scheme  fell  through,  however,  from  want 
of  authority  to  enforce  those  demands,  and  owing  to  the  distance  of 
several  States  from  the  army.  This  was  the  gloomiest  period  of  the 
Revolution,  while  the  campaigns  of  1776  and  1777  in  New  York, 
Pennsylvania,  and  Delaware  were  unfavourable  to  the  Continentals  on 
the  whole.90 


Meanwhile,  several  officers  of  the  American  army  had  been 
induced  to  criticise  in  an  unworthy  fashion  the  actions  of  their  come 
mander-in-chief,and  thismovementhasbeentracedmainly  to  the  ambition 
of  General  Gates,  who  had  been  designated  by  some  as  more  deserving 
of  that  position.91  Generals  Lee  and  Schuyler,  with  other  officers  were 
implicated  in  that  envious  and  disgraceful  proceeding.  Conway  had 


been  appointed  Major-General  and 
army  by  Congress92  against  the 

“D.uiing  this  enforced  retirement 
in  ’Vhe  cantonments,  the  services  of 
Stephen  Moylan  and  his  dragoons 
were  conspicuous,  in  scouting  and  in 
securing  the  safety  of  provisions  and 
munitions  for  the  American  army. 

90  In  ‘‘The  Writings  of  George 
Washington,”  etc.,  edited  by  Jared 
Sparks’  Vol.  v.,  are  Maps  and  Plans, 
illustrating  Operations  in  the  Dela¬ 
ware,  October  and  November,  1777, 
Attack  on  Forts  Mifflin  and  Mercer , 


Inspector-General  of  the  American 
protest  of  Washington,  who  had 

as  also  Plan  of  the  Encampment  at 
Valley  Forge,  pp.  lo6,  196. 

'9I  See  an  interesting  account  of 
these  transactions  in  Marshall’s  “  Life 
of  George  Washington,”  Vol.  iii.» 
chap,  vi.,  pp.  350  to  366,  and  pp. 
412,  413. 

92  On  the  loth  of  December  1777, 
his  office  was  made  independent  of 
the  commander-in-chief,  while  he  was 
referred  to  the  Board  of  War  for  the 
sanction  of  his  military  regulations. 


THE  CONWAY  CABAL. 


237 


received  unfavourable  reports  regarding  him,  and  these  appear  to  have 
been  well  founded.93  This  led  to  an  estrangement  between  them.  The 
very  best  and  truest  public  characters  cannot  escape  adverse  criticism 
or  unreasoning  suspicions ;  and  it  was  Washington’s  fate  to  have  his 
movements  and  judgment  called  in  question,  at  this  dark  period  of 
misery  and  ill-fortune  for  the  Americans.  Conway  had  largely  contri¬ 
buted  to  spread  opinions  unfavourable  to  the  great  patriot’s  military 
reputation,  and  he  also  was  one  of  the  chief  instigators  of  a  plot,  known 
among  the  revolutionary  episodes  as  “  the  Conway  Cabal.”94  Joined  by 
General  Mifflin  and  a  few  members  of  Congress,  an  effort  had  been  made 
to  supplant  Washington  as  commander-in-chief,  and  to  put  either  General 
Lee  or  General  Gates  over  the  army.  However,  the  well  known  in¬ 
tegrity  of  Washington  could  not  be  called  in  question,  while  his  superior 
judgment  in  the  conduct  of  the  war  was  soon  justified  in  the  public 
estimation.  The  noble  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  revealed  that  conspiracy 
to  the  great  shame  of  its  originatoi’s.  Having  been  imprudently  led 
into  that  cabal,95  General  Conway  was  obliged  to  resign  his  command. 
He  withdrew  to  York,  in  Pennsylvania,  which  was  the  residence  of 
Congress.  After  his  retirement,  however,  he  indulged  in  expressions 
manifesting  hostility  towards  the  commander-in-chief..  Engaging  in  an 
altercation  with  General  Cadwallader,  a  duel  ensued,  in  which  Conway 
received  a  wound,  for  some  time  thought  to  have  been  mortal.96  Mean¬ 
while,  with  true  magnanimity,  Washington  trusted  that  coming  gene¬ 
rations  and  events  should  approve  his  conducting  of  the  war,  and  also 
manifest  the  greatness  of  his  character. 


93  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
■of  the  United  States,”  Voi.  ix.,  chap, 
xxvii.,  p.  454. 

94  A  pamphlet  had  been  published 
in  London,  1776,  and  in  the  preface 
it  was  stated,  that  when  Fort  Lee 
had  been  evacuated,  a  portmanteau 
belonging  to  General  Washington  had 
been  left  behind,  in  which  were  drafts 
of  private  letters  to.  his  wife  and 
other  members  of  his  family,  which 
had  been  transmitted  to  England  by 
an  officer,  into  whose  hands  they  had 
fallen.  The  series  of  fictitious  letters 
in  the  body  of  the  pamphlet  repre¬ 
sented  Washington  as  expressing  sen¬ 
timents  totally  at  variance  with  his 
conduct,  and  as  deprecating  the  mis¬ 
guided  seal  and  rashness  of  Congress 
in  declaring  independence,  and  push¬ 
ing  opposition  against  Great  Britain 
to  so  peril  ous  an  extremity.  The 
Author  of  those  insidious  and  spurious 


epistles  has  never  been  publicly 
known  ;  but  they  were  represented  in 
New  York,  and  industriously  circu¬ 
lated  in  various  forms  by  Washing¬ 
ton’s  enemies  throughout  the  United 
States.  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of 
Washington,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  x.,  pp. 
266  to  275. 

95  Such  is  the  statement  made  by 
General  Sullivan,  in  a  letter  to  Gene¬ 
ral  Washington. 

96WThile  his  recovery  was  despaired 
of,  he  addressed  an  humble  apology 
to  General  Washington,  and  dated 
Philadelphia,  23rd  July  1778.  In  it, 
he  writes:  “You  are  in  my  eyes  the 
great  and  good  man.  May  you  long 
enjoy  the  love,  veneration,  and  esteem 
of  those  States  whose  liberties  you 
have  asserted  by  your  virtues.”  See 
John  Marshall’s  “Life  of  George 
Washington,”  Vol.  iii.,  chap,  vi.,  p. 
413.  nolo.. 


238  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


Financial  and  physical  Difficulties  of  the  United  States  Government — Alliance  with 
and  Aid  from  France — Overtures  of  Peace  from  England — Evacuation  of  Phila¬ 
delphia  by  the  British — Battle  of  Monmouth — Surprise  at  Wyoming — Arrival 
of  Admiral  d’Estaing — Combination  to  attack  New  York — Expedition  against 
Rhode  Island — Its  Failure — Congress  adopts  Articles  of  Confederation — ■ 
British  Expedition  against  the  Southern  States. 


The  American  army  was  soon  in  a  deplorable  condition,  nor  was  Con¬ 
gress — then  in  a  state  of  bankruptcy — able  to  supply  its  wants.  Some 
wealthy  private  individuals,  however,  contributed  large  sums  of  money, 
and  pledged  their  credit  to  borrow  more  for  Congress.1  The  soldiers’ 
clothes  were  scant  and  ragged.  Their  stock  of  powder  was  nearly 
exhausted,  and  their  munitions  of  war  were  very  scarce.  Notwith¬ 
standing,  while  ably  and  zealously  assisted  by  Generals  Putnam,  Greene, 
and  Gates,  the  Commander-in-Chief  succeeded  in  recruiting  soldiers. 
Moreover,  he  brought  the  army  into  a  tolerable  state  of  discipline.  By 
great  efforts  and  sacrifices  supplies  were  procured.2  Money  had  been 
assessed  among  the  colonies  by  order  of  Congress,  and  according  to  the 
supposed  number  and  resources  of  their  inhabitants.  Each  colony  was 
to  pay  its  allotted  proportion,  in  four  annual  instalments.  The  first 
issue  amounted  to  two  million  of  paper  dollars;  but,  as  no  system  of 
taxation  had  been  devised  to  meet  their  liquidation,  public  confidence 
in  their  value  could  not  be  established.  The  distresses  of  the  army 
were  urged  in  vain  on  Congress,  now  powerless  to  afford  them  adequate 
relief.3  Meantime,  the  Commissioners  in  France  had  been  instructed 
to  borrow  more  money  there,  but  to  that  date  they  had  been  unsuccess¬ 
ful.  However,  national  antipathy  to  England,  and  motives  of  commercial 
gain,  as  also  the  popular  French  sentiment,  led  to  friendly  interests  and 
secret  co-operation  with  the  cause  and  fortunes  of  the  Americans.4 


1  Foremost  among  these  may  fee 
named  Robert  Morris,  a  rich  merchant 
of  Philadelphia,  who  made  great 
pecuniary  sacrifices  for  the  patriotic 
cause,  and  these  were  continued  to 
the  end  of  the  war. 

2  On  June  17  1780,  twenty-seven 

members  of  the  society  of  the  Friendly 

sons  of  St.  Patrick  signed  a  paper 
setting  forth  the  necessity  for  a  vig¬ 
orous  management  of  the  wrar,  and 
reciting  that  “  the  subscribers,  deeply 
impressed  with  the  sentiments  that 
on  such  an  occasion  should  govern  us 
in  the  prosecution  of  a  war  on  the 
result  of  which  our  freedom  and  that 
of  our  posterity,  and  the  freedom  and 


independence  of  the  United  States, 
are  all  involved,  hereby  severally 
pledge  our  property  and  credit  for  the 
several  sums  specified  and  mentioned 
after  our  names,  in  order  to  support 
the  credit  of  a  bank  to  be  established 
for  furnishing  a  supply  of  provisions 
for  the  armies  of  the  United  States.” 

3  See  John  Marshall’s  “  Life  of 
George  Washington,”  Yol.  iii.,  chap, 
vi.,  pp.  366  to  376. 

4  See  James  Graham’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States  of  North  America, 
from  the  Plantation  of  the  British 
Colonies  till  their  Revolt  and  Declara¬ 
tion  of  Independence,”  Yol.  iv.,  Book 
xi.,  chap,  v.,  pp.  406,  407. 


FINANCIAL  AND  PHYSICAL  DIFFICULTIES. 


239 


All  over  Europe  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne’s  army  was  received  as 
the  harbinger  of  England’s  ultimate  failure.  On  the  6th  Fof  February 
1778,n  the  independence  of  America  was  formally  declared  by  France, 
when  an  alliance  and  a  treaty  of  commerce  with  the  confederated  states 
had  been  settled  at  Paris.5 6  Then  Benjamin  Franklin,  Silas  Deane  and 
Arthur  Lee  were  publicly  received  at  the  French  court,  as  accredited 
representatives  of  the  United  States  of  America.7  The  equipment  of  a 
French  army  to  embark  for  the  seat  of  war  was  decreed.  Thence  forward, 
the  patriotic  cause  was  deemed  to  have  been  assured  of  success  through¬ 
out  Europe  and  America.8 

A  French  loan  was  now  negotiated  ;  and,  during  the  Spring,  a  vessel 
of  twenty-four  guns  arrived  in  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  with 
upwards  of  11,000  stand  of  trms,  and  1,000  barrels  of  gunpowder. 
Meantime,  the  friends  of  America  in  the  British  House  of  Commons, 
Colonel  Barre,  Edmund  Burke  and  Charles  James  Fox  had  introduced 
several  motions,  on  the  state  of  the  nation,  to  incriminate  and  to  arrest 
the  course  of  ministers  during  the  early  months  of  this  year  ;9  but,  not¬ 
withstanding  the  justice  and  force  of  their  reasoning,  on  every  division 
they  were  left  in  a  hopeless  minority.10  The  English  Government  at 
last  recognising  the  gravity  of  their  situation,  Lord  North  introduced 
two  bills  into  the  British  House  of  Commons  on  the  17th  February.  He 
now  proposed  to  concede  everything  the  Americans  contended  for, 
except  their  nominal  independence  of  the  Crown.  This  announcement 
was  humiliating  to  the  pride  and  obstinacy  of  the  King  and  ministers, 
while  the  concession  came  too  late.  Such  a  sudden  abandonment  of  all 
points  in  dispute  produced  consternation  and  astonishment  among  all 


5  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Yol  ix.,  chap, 
xxviii.,  p.  481. 

6  Governor  Morris  had  a  chief  part 
in  forming  those  diplomatic  instruc¬ 
tions  addressed  to  Franklin,  the  pleni¬ 
potentiary  at  Versailles.  See  Jared 
Sparks’  “  Life  of  Governor  Morris, 
with  selections  from  his  correspondence 
and  miscellaneous  papers,  detailing 
Events  in  the  American  Revolution  the 
French  Revolution,  and  in  the  Politi¬ 
cal  History  of  the  United  States,”  in 
Three  Vols.,  Boston,  1832,  8vo. 

7  The  negotiations  connected  with 

the  Treaty  of  Alliance  between  France 
and  the  LTnited  States  are  described  in 

Judge  Marshall’s  “Life  of  George 
Washington,”  &c.,  Vol.  iii. ,  chap, 
vii.,  pp.  436  to  454.  The  mutual 
agreement  formed  as  a  basis  of  policy 
and  of  action  is  briefly  set  down  in 
the  Memoranda  of  the  Various  Arti¬ 
cles  of  the  Treaty  concluded  between 
France  and  America,  6th  February 

1778,  in  the  hand-writing  of  the  Earl 


of  Carlisle.  The  original  is  at  Castle 
Howard.  See  B.  F.  Stevens’  “Fac¬ 
similes  of  Manuscripts  in  European 
Archives  Relating  to  America,”  1773- 
1783 ;  with  Descriptions,  Editorial 
Notes,  Collations,  References,  and 
Translations,  Vol.  i.,  No.  70.  This 
valuable  seriel  work  was  issued  only 
to  subscribers,  in  folio  size,  and  pub¬ 
lished  at  4  Trafalgar  Square,  Charing 
Cross,  London,  November  1889,  et 
seq. 

8  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Works  of  Ben¬ 
jamin  Franklin,”  &c.,  Vol.  i.,  Life 
of  Benjamin  Franklin,  chap.  x.  pp. 
417  to  437. 

9  The  Debates  in  February,  March 
and  April,  1778,  on  reconciliation 
with  the  Americans  in  the  House  of 
Lords  and  Commons  are  well  epito¬ 
mised,  with  many  interesting  State 
secrets  revealed,  in  Horace  Walpole’s 
“  Journal  of  the  Reign  of  King  George 
the  Third,”  &c.,  Vol.  ii.,  pp.  188  to 
264. 

10  See  “  The  Annual  Register  for  the 


240  IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


the  supporters  of  Government  in  the  House.11  Filled  with  a  rankling 
hatred  of  the  French,  against  whom  he  had  brought  the  Seven  Years’ 
War  to  a  successful  conclusion,  the  Earl  of  Chatham  entered  the  House 
of  Lords  on  the  8th  of  April,  for  the  last  time,  and  in  an  incoherent 
but  a  remarkable  speech,12  he  urged  England  to  peril  even  her  national 
existence  in  a  renewal  of  the  American  contest,  which  formerly  he  had 
so  eloquently  denounced.  At  the  conclusion  of  that  exciting  harangue, 
which  he  had  scarcely  strength  to  deliver,  he  was  answered  bv  the 
Duke  of  Richmond.  Rising  to  reply,  Chatham  was  seized  with  an 
apoplectic  fit,  and  carried  from  the  House  of  Lords.  He  expired  on 
the  11th  May  ensuing.13 

Under  the  command  of  Admiral  Count  D’Estaing,  the  French  Govern¬ 
ment  had  fitted  out  a  fleet  of  twelve  large  man-of-war  ships,  to  aid  the 
Americans,  together  with  five  frigates.  They  parted  from  Toulon,  on 
the  15th  of  April,  and  M.  Gerard  de  Raineval,  a  plenipotentiary  minister 
of  Louis  XYI.  and  accredited  to  Congress,  was  on  board.14  So  also 
was  the  American  Commissioner  Silas  Deane.15  Regiments  of  the  Irish 
brigades  in  France  were  embarked  on  board  the  French  fleet,  destined  to 
assist  the  Continentals.  Among  those  were  the  regiments  of  Berwick, 
of  Walsh,  of  Fermoy,  and  of  Dillon.  A  petition10  had  been  forwarded  to  the 
French  War  Office,  by  the  regiment  of  General  Arthur  Dillon,17  claim¬ 
ing  the  privilege  of  being  sent  out  to  fight  the  English  in  America. 
Accordingly,  Count  Arthur  Dillon  was  appointed  commander  of  those 
Irish  Brigades  in  the  French  service  He  had  now  2,300  men  under 
his  orders,  for  the  most  part  Irish ;  and,  he  wrote  an  interesting  account 


year  1778,”  Yol.  xxi.,  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  vi.,  pp.  101  to  129. 

1 1  These  propositions  were  received 
with  “  a  dull,  melancholy  silence.” — 
Ibid.,  chap,  vii.,  p.  133.  Also,  the 
“  Parliamentary  History  of  England,” 
Vol.  xix.  p.  l023. 

12  See  the  account,  in  Horace  Wal¬ 
pole’s  “Journal  of  the  Reign  of  King 
George  the  Third,  from  the  year  1771 
to  1783,”  edited  by  Dr.  Doran,  Vol. 
ii.,  pp.  253,  254. 

13  See  “New  and  General  Biogra¬ 
phical  Dictionary,”  &c.,  Vol.  xii., 
Art.  Pitt,  William,  Earl  of  Chatham, 
p.  258.  London,  1798,  8vo.  Also, 
Rev.  Francis  Thackerry’s  “  History  of 
the  Right  Honourable  William  Pitt, 
Earl  of  Chatham,”  Yol.  ii.,  chap, 
xxix.,  pp.  275,  276. 

14  See  Henri  Martin’s  “Histoirede 
France,”  Tomexvi.,  Liv.  civ.,  p.427. 

15  See  Horace  Walpole’s  “Journal  of 
the  Reign  of  King  George  the  Third, 
from  the  year  1771  to  1783,”  Vol.  ii., 

p.  262. 

1 6  This  was  addressed  on  behalf  of 


all  the  Irish  troops  serving  in  France. 
Count  Dillon  gives  an  abstract  of  the 
petition  sent  by  his  own  regiment  to 
the  French  War  Office,  in  the  begin¬ 
ning  of  1779. 

17  He  was  the  son  of  Lord  Dillon, 
an  Irish  nobleman,  but  he  was  born 
September  3rd  1750,  in  the  Castle  of 
Bray  wick,  England.  After  a  brilliant 
military  career  he  returned  to  Paris, 
where  as  a  royalist  he  was  ar¬ 
rested  ;  and  on  the  14th  of 
October  1793,  he  perished  with 
eighteen  other  victims  on  the 
scaffold,  a  sacrifice  to  the  revolution¬ 
ary  frenzy  of  that  period.  One  of 
his  daughters  married  General  Ber 
trand,  and  she  accompanied  her  hus¬ 
band  to  St.  Helena,  where  they  re¬ 
mained  until  the  Emperor  Napoleon’s 
death  in  1 821 .  See  ‘  ‘  Historical 
Notes  on  the  Services  of  Irish  Officers 
in  the  French  Army,  addressed  to  the 
National  Assembly,  by  one  of  its 
Members,  General  Arthur  Dillon, 
1792.”  Translated  from  the  French, 
by  J.  P.  Leonard,  Dublin,  1889,  18mo. 


ALLIANCE  WITH  AND  AID  FROM  FRANCE. 


241 


of  the  services  rendered  by  those  troops  under  his  command.18  They 
had  been  mostly  recruited  from  Ireland.  The  first  battalion  of  his  own 
regiment  numbered  1,000  men,  and  it  was  afterwards  raised  to 
1,400.19  With  the  squadron  of  M.  dela  Mothe-Piquct,  these  Irish  troops 
embarked  at  Brest  on  the  5th  of  April  1779,  W  en  news  of  their 
departure  for  the  seat  of  war  and  their  destination  I  a  l  become  known, 
orders  were  despatched  to  concentrate  the  British  forces  in  New  York, 
until  further  reinforcements  could  be  sent.  Accordingly,  the  English 
fleet  under  Admiral  Howe  raised  anchor  and  sailed  out  of  the 
Delaware.20 

Conceiving  that  the  time  for  compromise  and  concession  had  now 
arrived,  the  English  Ministry  despatched  Commissioners  to  treat  on 
conditions  of  peace  with  the  Americans.21  The  Commissioners  arrived 
in  the  month  of  June.22  At  this  time,  the  American  army  was  not  in 
a  position  to  effect  any  very  decisive  operations.  However,  towards 
the  end  of  May,  Washington  moved  to  a  strong  position  at  Middle- 
brook.  His  troops  were  soon  almost  in  a  state  of  mutiny,  owing  to  the 
privations  and  absence  of  all  necessaries  they  had  endured.  In  this 
condition  of  affairs,  British  intrigue  found  its  way  to  the  American 
camp.  Placards  were  posted  to  seduce  the  loyalty  of  Irishmen,  serving 
under  Washington.  One  of  these  announced  such  delusive  intelligence, 
as  that  the  affairs  of  Ireland  were  then  fully  settled,  and  that  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland  were  “  united  as  well  from  interest  as  from  affec¬ 
tion.”23  However,  those  efforts  of  misrepresentation  and  seduction 
failed  to  convince  a  single  individual. 

When  the  British  Commissioners  arrived  in  America,  their  proposi¬ 
tions  for  peace  were  submitted  to  Congress.  They  issued  an  absurd 
manifesto,  in  which  it  was  vainly  sought  to  excite  Protestant  prejudice 
against  an  alliance  with  the  Prencli  papists,  while  they  threatened  that 
if  the  rebels  did  not  submit  within  thirty  days  from  its  date,  war  should 
proceed  on  the  plan  of  laying  the  whole  country  desolate,  and  that 
extreme  measures  should  be  taken  with  the  vanquished  people.  In 


18  This  Manuscript  is  now  in  the 
Royal  Irish  Academy. 

19  Count  Dillon  was  grandson  to 
the  renowned  General  Arthur  Dillon, 
who  served  in  the  French  armies  for 
forty  years,  and  who  died  in  the 
palace  of  St.  Germains,  in  1733.  See 
John  Cornelius  O’Callaghan’s  “Irish 
Brigades  in  the  Service  of  France,” 
Book  x. 

20  See  “  History  of  the  War  in 
America  between  Great  Britain  and 
her  Colonies,  from  its  commencement,” 
1779,  3  vols.,  8vo. 

21  The  Commissioners  appointed 
were  the  Earl  of  Carlisle,  Admiral 
Lord  Howe,  General  Sir  William 


Howe,  Sir  William  Eden,  afterwards 
Lord  Auckland,  and  George  John¬ 
stone,  Esq.,  “  for  quieting  and  ex¬ 
tinguishing  diverse  jealousies  and  ap¬ 
prehensions  of  danger  in  the  Ameri¬ 
cans.”  Accompanied  by  Lord  Corn¬ 
wallis,  they  sailed  from  England  in 
April,  1778.  See  John  Heneage  Jesse’s 
“  George  Selwyn  and  his  contempor- 
anies ;  with  Memoirs  and  Notes,” 
Voi.  iii. ,  pp.  272  to  280.  London 
1882,  8vo. 

22  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  x.,  chap, 
iv.,  pp.  122,  123.  ,, 

23  See  Michael  Doheny’s  “  History 
of  the  American  Revolution,”  chap, 
xv.,  p.  209. 

B 


242 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


consequence  of  the  insulting  language  used  against  his  countrymen 
and  religion,  Lafayette  sent  a  challenge  to  the  Earl  of  Carlisle,  Chief  of 
the  Commissioners.  That,  however,  was  declined.24  One  of  these 
Commissioners,  named  Johnstone,  attempted  to  secure  the  good  offices 
of  Joseph  Reed,  President  of  Pennsylvania,  by  offering  him  a  bribe ;  he 
returned  the  noble  answer,  “  I  am  not  worth  purchasing,  but  such  as  I 
am,  the  King  of  England  is  not  rich  enough  to  buy  me.”  Thus,  British 
threats  and  proposals  were  indignantly  despised  and  rejected.  The 
Americans,  who  were  bound  to  France  that  no  peace  should  be  made 
until  the  complete  independence  of  their  country  was  secured,  refused 
to  negociate  on  any  other  basis.  Moreo\  er,  as  a  means  for  encouraging 
the  people  in  their  patriotic  resolutions  and  endeavours,  Congress  gave 
the  widest  possible  circulation  to  that  foolish  manifesto,  as  if  nothing 
could  be  conceived  more  favourable  to  raise  the  people’s  courage  and 
hopes.  In  the  British  Parliament,  likewise,  several  of  the  ministerial 
opponents,  believing  that  a  crisis  had  now  arrived,  resol  ved  on  proposing 
a  declaration  of  the  most  complete  colonial  independence. 

Meanwhile,  General  Sir  William  Howe  desired  to  be  withdrawn 
from  conducting  this  war,  and  his  resignation  was  accepted  bv  the 
ministry.  The  British  army  evacuated  Philadelphia  on  the  18th  of 
June,  as  French  reinforcements  were  then  expected  soon  to  arrive  ;  and 
under  the  leadership  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  who  became  commander-in- 
chief  in  North  America,  the  regiments  crossed  over  the  Delaware  to 
march  for  New  York.25  Their  force  amounted  to  more  than  17,000 
effective  men.  Crowds  of  loyalists  followed,  broken  in  fortune  and 
without  a  career,  leaving  as  exiles  the  city  of  their  love.  Immediately 
afterwards,  General  Arnold  was  put  in  command  of  the  city  by  Wash¬ 
ington,  and  with  orders  to  restrain,  so  far  as  possible,  every  kind  of 
persecution,  insult  or  abuse.26  Having  about  12,000  men  under  his 
command,  sending  forward  General  Maxwell’s  brigade  to  harass  the 
British,  and  in  co-operation  with  the  New  Jersey  Militia,  Washington 
left  Valley  Forge.  Having  ordered  the  movement  of  his  troops,27  ho 
crossed  the  Delaware  in  pursuit  of  the  retreating  British  Army.28 
The  heat  was  intense  at  this  season,  and  the  Americans  halted  for  rest 
at  Princetown.  After  a  rapid  march  of  several  days,  their  General  came 
up  with  the  enemy  at  Monmouth  in  New  Jersey.  He  had  directed 
General  Lee  to  advance  with  a  considerable  division  and  to  attack 


24  In  the  French  language,  there  is 
a  fac-simile  of  Lafayette’s  challenge, 
in  his  own  hand-writing,  to  the  Earl 
of  Carlisle,  and  dated  Fishkill,  5th 
October  1778.  It  may  be  found  in 
B.  F.  Stevens’  “  Facsimiles  of  Manu¬ 
scripts  in  European  Archives  Relating 
to  America,”  1773-1785,  Vol.  i.,  No. 
102. 

2"’  See  “Narrative  of  Lieut.-Gen. 
Sir  Henry  Clinton,  K.B.,  relative  to 
Jais  Conduct  during  Part  of  his  Com¬ 


mand  of  the  King’s  Troops  in  North 
America.”  London,  1783. 

26  See  Lord  Mahon’s  “  History  of 
England  from  the  Peace  of  Utrecht,” 
1774-1780,  Vol.  vi.,  chap,  lviii.,  p. 
378. 

27  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,”  &c.,  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xi., 
p.  293. 

28  See  Judge  Marshall’s  “  Life  of 
Geoge  Washington,”  &c.,  Vol.  iii., 
chap,  viii.,  pp.  494  to  497. 


BATTLE  OP  MONMOUTH.  243 

the  British,  unless  there  should  be  powerful  contrary  reasons.  He  then 
rode  back,  to  bring  up  the  main  body  in  support.29  On  the  28th  of 
June,  the  obstinate  battle  of  Monmouth  was  fought,  and  it  commenced 
before  daylight  had  appeared.30  About  twenty  thousand  men  were 
engaged  in  the  battle  of  Monmouth,  while  Washington,  Lee,  Layfayette, 
Greene,  Morgan,  Knox,  Stuart  and  other  distinguished  officers  were 
present  on  the  side  of  the  Americans.  The  division  ot  General  Lee 
was  the  first  to  open  this  engagement,  but  refusing  to  obey  the  order 
of  his  commander-in-chief,  much  confusion  and  disorder  ensued  among 
his  troops.31  Indeed,  their  leader’s  conduct  was  at  that  time  inexplic¬ 
able  32  A  panic  ensued,  which  Washington  succeeded  in  arresting; 
but  he  administered  a  severe  reprimand  on  the  field  to  Lee  for  his  bad 
conduct  under  the  circumstances.33  Twice  the  British  attempted  to 
turn  the  American  flank,  but  they  were  repulsed.  About  two  o’clock, 
a  desperate  struggle  ensued  between  Greene’s  Brigade  and  the  Hessians 
and  Grenadiers,  commanded  by  Col.  Monckton.  Wayne  was  stationed 
with  an  advanced  corps  of  his  Pennsylvanians  on  a  rising  eminence,  with 
a  park  of  artillery.  From  this  position  he  kept  up  a  galling  fire  upon 
the  English  centre,  and  repeatedly  repulsed  the  roy  al  grenadiers,  who 
had  advanced  to  dislodge  him  with  the  bayonet.  Their  leader 
Monckton,  perceiving  that  victory  depended  on  driving  Wayne  from  his 
position,  harangued  his  men,  andplacing  himself  at  their  head,  he  marched 
in  solid  column  upon  the  Pennsylvanians.  The  English  advanced  until 
within  a  few  rods  of  the  Americans,  when  Monckton  waving  his  sword 
raised  a  shout  and  ordered  his  grenadiers  to  charge.  At  the  same  moment, 
Wayne  gave  his  signal ;  a  terrible  volley  burst  upon  the  assailants,  and 
almost  every  British  officer  fell.  Among  them  was  their  leader  the 
intrepid  Monckton.  Over  his  dead  body  the  Americans  and  English 
fought  desparately,  until  at  last  the  Americans  triumphed,  and  carried 
it  to  the  rear.  The  British  moved  on  the  right,  but  a  battery  under  the 
immediate  command  of  Knox  cut  through  their  lines,  and  drove  them 
back  bleeding  and  disheartened.34  At  the  same  time,  a  general  assault 


29  The  ground  and  movements  of  the 
forces  on  both  sides  are  shown  on  a 
Map  delineating  the  Battle  of  Mon¬ 
mouth,  in  “The  Writings  of  George 
Washington,”  &c.,  Vol.  v.,  p.  430. 
Edition  of  Jared  Sparks. 

30  A  very  full  and  circumstantial 
account  of  this  battle  is  to  be  found 
in  Benson  J.  Lossing’s  “  Pictorial 
Field-Book  of  the  Revolution,”  Vol. 
ii.,  chap,  xiii.,  pp.  355  to  368 

31  See  “The  Annual  Register  for 
the  year  1778,”  Vol.  xxi.,  “History 
of  Europe,”  chap,  x.,  pp.  224,  225. 

32  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  x.,  chap, 
iv.,  pp.  129  to  132. 

33  For  his  conduct  at  Monmouth, 


Lee  was  afterwards  tried  by  Court- 
martial,  and  charged  with  various 
offences.  He  was  found  guilty  of  mis¬ 
conduct  and  of  disrespectful  language 
to  his  commander-in-chief.  He  was 
suspended  for  a  year.  Soon  after¬ 
wards  he  was  dismissed  altogether, 
for  writing  an  insolent  letter  to  Con¬ 
gress. 

34  During  this  part  of  the  action, 
Molly,  the  handsome  and  fair-haired 
wife  of  an  Irish  cannonier,  displayed 
great  courage  and  presence  of  mind. 
We  have  already  noticed  her  bravery 
in  firing  the  last  gun  at  Fort  Clinton. 
She  was  a  sturdy  and  tall  young 
camp-follower,  only  twenty-two  years 
old,  and  in  devotion  to  her  husband. 


244 


IRISII-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


was  made  along  the  whole  line,  and  the  enemy  beaten  at  every  point 
retreated  to  a  strong  position;  when  Washington  directed  General  Poor35 
to  move  round  upon  their  right,  and  General  Woodford  to  march  on 
their  left,  so  that  they  might  renew  the  attack  next  norning.36  During 
that  whole  day,  the  battle  raged  without  much  advantage  to  either  side, 
and  night  came  on,  when  under  cover  of  the  darkness  Clinton  stole 
away.37  In  this  battle,  the  Americans  lost  229  men,  in  killed  and 
wounded,  while  the  British  loss  was  more  than  400.38  The  retreat, 
however,  cost  their  general  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing  a  much 
greater  number.  Moreover,  above  800  men  deserted  their  standard 
during  the  march  through  the  Jerseys.39  Clinton  continued  the  retreat, 
not  greatly  arrested  by  the  Continentals,  until  he  reached  Sandyhook.40 
There  his  army  halted,  under  protection  of  the  British  fleet,41 


she  illustrated  the  character  of  her 
countrywomen  of  the  Emerald  Isle. 
In  the  action,  while  her  husband  was 
managing  one  of  the  field  pieces,  she 
constantly  brought  him  water  from  a 
spring  near  by.  A  shot  from  the 
enemy  killed  him  at  his  post ;  and, 
the  officer  in  command,  having  no 
one  competent  to  fill  his  place,  ordered 
the  piece  to  be  withdrawn.  Molly 
saw  her  husband  fall,  as  she  came 
from  the  spring,  and  she  also  heard 
the  order.  Dropping  her  bucket,  she 
seized  the  rammer,  and  vowed  she 
would  fill  the  place  of  her  husband 
at  the  gun  and  avenge  his  death. 
She  performed  that  duty  with  a  skill 
and  courage,  which  attracted  the  at¬ 
tention  of  all  who  saw  her.  On  the 
following  morning  and  covered  with 
blood,  General  Greene  presented  her 
to  Washington.  Admiring  her  bra¬ 
very,  he  conferred  upon  her  the  com¬ 
mission  of  Sergeant.  By  his  recom¬ 
mendation,  her  name  was  placed  on 
the  list  of  half-pay  officers  for  life. 
After  leaving  the  army,  she  retired 
to  Fort  Montgomery,  among  the  Hud¬ 
son  highlands,  where  she  died.  She 
usually  went  by  the  name  of  Captain 
Molly.  See  Lossing’s  “Pictorial 
Field-Book  of  the  Revolution,”  Vol. 
ii. ,  chap,  xiii.,  p.  361.  There  is  an 
illustration  of  that  incident  in  de¬ 
scribing  the  battle  at  Monmouth. 
Also  n.  2,  pp.  361,  362  Ibid. 

35  General  Enoch  Poor  was  of  Irish 
origin,  and  a  native  of  New  Hamp¬ 
shire.  He  served  as  Colonel  in  the 
Continental  army  during  the  ex¬ 
pedition  bo  Canada  in  1776 ;  and 
afterwards  he  was  appointed  Briga 


dier-General  in  1777,  taking  part  in 
the  battles  which  led  to  Burgoyne’s 
surrender.  He  died  in  1780,  at  Hack¬ 
ensack,  N.J.  See  Ed.  O’Meagher 
Condon’s  “  Irish  Race  in  America,” 
chap,  xiii.,  pp.  182,  183. 

36  Colonel  Francis  Barber,  son  of 
Pati’ick  Barber,  of  Longford  Ireland, 
received  a  commission  from  Congress 
in  1776,  as  major  of  the  Third  Bat¬ 
talion  of  New  Jersey  Troops.  He 
was  in  constant  service  during  the 
whole  war.  He  took  part  in  all  the 
battles  in  the  north,  and  he  was 
severely  wounded  at  Monmouth.  He 
was  accidently  killed  by  the  falling 
of  a  tree  at  Yorktown,  on  the  day 
previous  to  Cornwallis’  surrender. 
His  brothers  Colonel  John  and  Cap¬ 
tain  W’illiam  Barber  commanded  a 
company  in  the  New  York  Line. 

37  See  Judge  Marshall’s  “  Life  of 
George  Washington,”  &c.,  Yol.  iii., 
chap,  viii.,  pp.  504  to  517. 

38  See  Washington’s  letter  to  the 
President  of  Congress,  describing  this 
battle,  and  dated  July  1st  1778,  in 
“The  Writings  of  George  Washing¬ 
ton,”  &c.,  Vol.  v.,  pp,  422  to  429. 

39  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  x.  chap, 
iv.,  p.  133. 

40  See  the  Irish  Sergeant  Roger 
Lamb’s  “Journal  of  Occurrences  dur¬ 
ing  the  late  American  War  from  its 
Commencement.”  1809,  8vo. 

41  Notwithstanding,  when  Sir  Wil¬ 
liam  Howe  arrived  in  England  July 
2nd,  he  reported  that  Sir  Henry  Clin¬ 
ton’s  army  evacuated  Philadelphia  for 
want  of  provisions.  See  Horace 
Walpole's  “  Journal  of  the  Reign  of 


SURPRISE  AT  WYOMING. 


245 


On  the  2nd  of  July,  the  President  of  Congress  and  several  of  its 
members  returned  once  more  to  Philadelphia,  ( >n  the  25th  of  that 
month,  Congress  ordered  the  emission  of  one  million  of  dollars  more 
to  the  public  debt ;  and,  from  time  to  time,  new  issues  were  authorised 
While  the  amount  of  these  was  small,  the  credit  of  the  bills  was  fairly 
good  ;  but,  when  new  emissions  took  place,  and  no  adequate  measures  for 
redemption  followed,  the  people  began  to  be  suspicious  about  those  frail 
representatives  for  money,  and  their  value  began  to  depreciate.  During 
the  year  1778,  no  less  than  sixty  millions  and  a  half  were  added  to  the 
issues  already  made.42 

Under  the  command  of  Colonel  John  Butler,43  born  in  Connecticut, 
but  a  violent  Tory  who  espoused  the  British  cause,  1,100  men  were 
organised  and  led  into  Pennsylvania  during  the  summer  of  1778. 
Among  the  Five  Indian  Nations  in  Western  New  York,  he  chiefly 
found  recruits.44  The  celebrated  Indian  Mohawk  Chief  Thayen- 
danegia,  but  better  known  as  Joseph  Brant,45  had  engaged  in  the  earlier 
colonial  wars,  and  lie  urged  the  Seneca  tribe  to  take  part  in  this 
expedition.  Colonel  Zebulon  Butler,46  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in 
the  Wyoming  valley,  on  the  Susquehanna  River  in  Pennsylvania. 
Having  served  as  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Connecticut  line,  during  the 
campaign  of  the  Jerseys  in  1777-8,  he  was  strongly  imbued  with  feelings 
of  hostility  towards  England.  Having  become  Colonel  in  March  1778, 
he  was  now  chosen  to  defend  Wyoming,  where  he  commanded  only  a 
very  weak  garrison,47  Several  Irish  settlers  fought  in  the  ranks  under 


King  George  the  Third,”  &c  ,  Vol. 
ii.,  p  282  Thus  every  lying  expe¬ 
dient  was  resorted  to  by  the  English, 
which  might  serve  to  conceal  their 
mischances  and  defeats  from  the  public 

42  An  interesting  account  of  those 
financial  difficulties  is  given  in  Benson 
J  Lossing’s  “Pictorial  Field-Book  of 
the  Revolution,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xiv  » 
pp  316  to  521. 

43  In  the  colonial  wars,  he  com¬ 
manded  the  Indians  and  served  under 
Sir  William  Johnston.  He  also  com¬ 
manded  a  body  of  Indians,  at  the 
battle  of  Oriskany,  in  1777. 

44  See  “  The  History  of  the  Five 
Indian  Nations,  depending  on  the  Pro¬ 
vince  of  New  York,”  by  Cadwallader 
Colden,  with  a  Memoir  and  Notes, 
by  John  Gilmary  Shea.  New  York, 
1866,  8vo. 

45  He  was  a  Mohawk,  and  by 
election  the  Great  War  Chief  of  the 
Six  Nations.  In  his  early  youth,  he 
received  an  English  education  in  New 
York,  and  through  his  friendship  with 
Sir  William  Johnson,  he  was  accus¬ 


tomed  to  mix  in  good  society.  Before 
the  outbreak  of  the  American  Revolu¬ 
tion,  he  visited  England,  where  he 
was  lionized  and  made  much  of  at 
Court.  He  was  induced  to  enter 
into  an  active  alliance  on  the  side  of 
the  British.  On  his  return,  he  afc 
once  led  his  warriors  against  the 
Colonists.  For  many  years,  the 
dreaded  Six  Nations  and  their  noted 
chief  were  a  terror  and  a  scourge  to 
the  border  settlements.  After  the 
struggle  for  Independence  was  over, 
Brant  made  another  trip  to  England, 
where  he  again  met  with  a  distin¬ 
guished  reception  He  died  among 
his  own  people  in  1807.  See  the  ac¬ 
count  of  this  noted  character  with  a 
portrait,  in  Appleton’s  “Cyclopaedia, 
of  American  Biography,”  Vol.  i.,  pp, 
359,  360. 

46  He  was  born  in  Lyme,  Connecti¬ 
cut,  1731.  He  is  said  to  have  been 
of  Irish  descent,  and  to  have  been  a 
scion  of  the  Ormond  Butler  family. 

47  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  x.,  chap. 
v«,  pp.  136  to  138. 


246 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


his  command.48  Among  these  was  Captain  William  McKerachan,  who 
was  the  first  officer  of  the  Hanover  Company.49  This  severe  engage¬ 
ment  took  place,  on  the  3rd  July,  17 78. 60  Although  a  surprise  was 
attempted,  the  settlers  fought  desperately.51  Colonel  Butler’s  bravery 
was  specially  manifested  in  that  combined  attack  of  the  British  Tories 
and  Indians  at  Wyoming;  however,  his  resistance  was  soon  overcome. 
Nearly  the  whole  garrison,  without  respect  to  age  or  sex,  was  massacred 
with  the  most  savage  cruelty.52  The  enemy  also  burned  the  houses  and 
destroyed  the  crops,  leaving  the  whole  district  a  perfect  waste  Most 
of  the  women  and  children  fled  to  the  adjacent  mountains  for  conceal¬ 
ment,  where  many  of  them  afterwards  perished.63 

Meanwhile,  after  a  long  and  stormy  passage,  Admiral  d’Estaing 
entered  the  Bay  of  Delaware,  and  cast  anchor  there,  but  too  late  to 
intercept  Lord  Howe’s  squadron.54  Landing,  with  his  vessels  at  Newport 
Virginia  on  the  11th  of  July,  he  soon  afterwards  followed  the  enemy  to 
New  York,  and  anchored  within  Sandyhook,  where  he  intercepted 
several  unsuspecting  British  crews  bound  for  that  city.  A  combined 
attack  on  New  York  by  Washington  and  the  French  fleet  had  been 
planned.  With  such  object  in  view,  the  American  Commander-in-chief 
crossed  the  Hudson  River  and  encamped  on  White  Plains.  That  idea 
was  abandoned,  however,  and  another  expedition  was  planned,  having 
for  its  object  the  capture  of  Rhode  Island  and  its  garrison  of  6,000  men. 
The  American  army  took  up  a  position,  the  extreme  wings  extending 
from  Danbury  Connecticut  across  the  Hudson  at  West  Point  to 
Elizabethtown  in  New  Jersey.  The  fleet  of  Lord  Howe  was  anchored 


48  The  battle  here  fought  and  the 
massacre  which  followed  furnished  a 
theme  for  Thomas  Campbell’s  charm¬ 
ing  poem,  “  Gertrude  of  Wyoming.” 

49  Filled  with  a  spirit  of  singular 
modesty  and  patriotism,  he  said  to 
Captain  Stewart  on  the  morning  of 
the  battle  fought  here  :  “  My  pursuits 
in  life  have  thus  far  been  those 
of  peace ;  you  have  been  used  to  war 
and  accustomed  to  command.  On  par¬ 
ade,  I  can  manoeuvre  my  men,  but  in 
the  field  no  unnecessary  hazard  should 
be  run  ;  a  mistake  might  prove  fatal. 
Take  you  the  lead ;  I  will  fight  under 
you  with  my  men,  as  an  aid  or  a 
private  in  the  ranks.  Your  presence 
at  the  head  of  the  Hanover  boys  will 
impart  confidence.”  So  it  was  ar¬ 
ranged,  and  they  fought  together.  Mc¬ 
Kerachan  was  born  in  Belfast,  County 
Antrim,  in  1746.  He  fell  in  the 
battle  at  Wyoming.  See  Miner’s 
41  History  of  Wyoming.”  Philadelphia, 
1845. 

50  See  a  very  full  account  of  it,  in 


Alexander  M.  Sullivan’s  “  Visit  to  the 
Valley  of  Wyoming,”  published  in 
Dublin,  1865,  8vo. 

51  See  Isaac  A.  Chapman’s  “Sketch 
of  the  History  of  Wyoming,  with  a 
Statistical  Account  of  the  Valley  and 
adjacent  Country.”  Wilkesbarre, 
1830,  12mo. 

52  One  Indian  woman,  called  Queen 
Esther,  to  avenge  the  death  of  her 
son,  tomahawked  fourteen  with  her 
own  hand,  and  near  a  rock,  which 
still  bears  her  name.  A  very  inter¬ 
esting  description  of  Wyoming  and 
this  battle,  with  graphic  illustrations 
of  the  local  scenery,  will  be  found  in 
Benson  J.  Lossing’s  “  Pictorial  Field- 
Book  of  the  Revolution,”  Vol.  i., 
chap,  xv.,  xvi.,  pp.  337  to  381. 

53  See  “  The  Annual  Register  for  the 
year  1799,”  Vol.  xxii.,  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  i.,  pp.  7  to  14. 

54  See  Judge  Marshall’s  “  Life  of 
George  Washington,”  &c.,  Vol.  iii., 
chap,  ix.,  p.  523. 


ARRIVAL  OP  ADMIRAL  d’eSTAING. 


247 


in  Raritan  Bay,  where  the  water  was  shallow,  and  there  it  was  impossible 
for  the  much  larger  vessels  of  the  French  to  attack  them,  except  with 
great  risk  of  running  aground,  or  at  a  manifest  disadvantage.  At  this 
time,  there  were  provisions  in  New  York  for  nine  weeks  only  ;  so  that 
both  the  British  army  and  navy  were  likely  to  be  starved  into  a  surrender, 
unless  they  could  be  relieved.55  During  the  course  of  this  year, 
Congress  had  entertained  the  design  of  again  invading  Canada,  and 
Lafayette  was  most  anxious  to  be  engaged  in  that  attempt;  but,  for 
various  reasons  assigned  by  Washington,  who  did  not  approve  it,  that 
plan  was  abandoned.56  An  expedition  against  Newport  was  now  pro¬ 
jected,  and  thither  the  French  fleet  sailed.  Meantime,  Admiral  Byron 
had  been  sent  from  England  with  ships  to  reinforce  Lord  Howe ;  and 
his  squadron,  having  encountered  severe  storms,57  arrived  in  New  York, 
but  scattered,  dismasted  and  otherwise  damaged,  just  eight  days  after 
the  French  departed,  so  that  the  English  vessels  narrowly  escaped 
capture.  With  a  considerable  force  of  militia,  General  Sullivan  marched 
to  Rhode  Island  in  August.  To  co-operate  with  him,  the  French  fleet 
under  D’Estaing  appeared  in  Narraganset  Bay  on  the  29th  of  July.58 
He  had  3,500  land  troops  on  board.  The  British  were  forced  to  destroy 
ten  or  more  armed  ships  and  galleys,  carrying  two  hundred  and  twelve 
guns,59  But,  having  been  lately  reinforced,  Lord  Howe  now  approached 
to  attack  their  ships.  Both  admirals  prepared  for  action,  when  a  storm 
of  extraordinary  severity  arose.  A  partial  engagement  ensued,  but 
without  any  decisive  result.60  The  ships  on  both  sides  were  dispersed 
and  suffered  much  damage.  Then,  D’Estaing  was  obliged  to  put  into 
Boston  for  repairs,  while  Lord  Howe  returned  to  refit  in  New  York.61 
Under  the  command  of  General  Sullivan — whose  action  had  been  para¬ 
lysed  owing  to  the  departure  of  the  French  ships— the  Americans 
attacked  the  British  under  Pigot,  at  Quaker  Hill  on  Rhode  Island,  and 
obtained  a  victory  over  them,  on  the  29th  of  August.  The  loss  of  men, 
over  200  on  either  side,  was  nearly  equal.  Sullivan  gallantly  repulsed 
an  attack  made  upon  him  by  the  British  garrison.62  However,  his 
position  was  now  untenable,  so  that  he  was  obliged  to  retreat  from 
Rhode  Island,63  as  Lord  Howe’s  fleet  again  appeared  off  the  coast,  with 


55  See  Horace  Walpole’s  “  Journal 
of  the  Reign  of  King  George  the 
Third,  from  the  year  1771  to  1783,” 
Vol.  ii.,  p.  291. 

56  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xi.,  pp. 
311  to  314.  Also,  the  “  Secret  Journal 
of  the  Committee  of  Congress,”  1778. 

57  See  Horace  Walpole’s  “  Journal 
of  the  Reign  of  King  George  the 
Third,”  Vol.  ii.,  p.  288. 

58  See  “  The  Annual  Register  for  the 
1778,”  Vol.  xxi.,  The  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  x.,  p.  230. 

89  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 


of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  x.,  chap, 
v.,  p.  146. 

60  See  Horace  Walpole’s  “  Journal 
of  the  Reign  of  King  George  the 
Third,”  &c.,  Vol.  ii.,  ppr'291  to  293. 

61  See  Benson  J.  Lossing’s  “  Picto¬ 
rial  Field-Book  of  the  Revolution,” 
Vol.  ii.,  chap,  iv.,  pp.  78  to  84. 

62  See  a  very  interesting  account  of 
the  Rhode  Island  expedition  in  Judge 
Marshall’s  “  Life  of  George  Washing¬ 
ton,”  &c.,  Vol.  iii.,  chap,  ix.,  pp. 
529  to  548. 

63  See  “  The  Annual  Register  for  the 
year  1778,”  Vol.  xxi.,  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  x.,  pp.  231  to  236. 


248 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  TIIE  UNITED  STATES. 


Sir  Henry  Clinton  and  about  4,000  troops  on  board.  Notwithstanding 
the  remonstrances  addressed  to  him,  Admiral  D’Estaing  could  not  be 
induced  to  offer  any  effective  co-operation. 

To  secure  uniformity  of  action  and  federation,  the  popular  repre¬ 
sentatives  elaborated  a  scheme  for  general  government.  After  having 
debated  the  issue  three  times  a  week  for  many  months,  at  length  Con¬ 
gress  adopted  the  articles  of  Confederation,  on  July  9th  1778.  Copies 
of  these  articles  were  sent  to  the  various  State  Legislatures  for  appro¬ 
val.  They  did  not  receive  the  sanction  of  all  however,  until  March 
1781,  when  they  became  the  organic  law  of  the  Union. 

Meanwhile,  having  returned  to  New  York,  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
directed  Major-General  Grey,  that  he  should  proceed  to  Bedford,  and 
there  destroy  those  American  privateers,  which  were  known  to  frequent 
its  harbour  and  the  neighbouring  coasts.  A  similar  expedition  was 
undertaken,  about  the  same  time,  by  Captain  Ferguson  against  Little 
Egg  Harbour.  Several  ships  and  a  great  number  of  small  craft  were 
destroyed  as  a  consequence ;  while  magazines,  stores,  vessels  on  the 
stocks  and  buildings  were  burned.  Major-General  Grey  also  surprised 
an  American  regiment  of  Light  Dragoons,  commanded  by  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Baylor,  in  a  barn  near  Tappan,  where  they  had  taken  up  their 
lodging,  and  where  several  were  inhumanly  bayonetted  although  they 
sued  for  quarters.64  During  this  summer  also,  the  Americans  organized 
an  expedition  against  East  Florida,  under  General  Robert  Howe,  who 
had  a  command  of  about  2,000  men.  A  few  hundred  were  Continental 
troops,  the  remainder  being  militia,  belonging  to  the  States  of  South 
Carolina  and  Georgia.  On  their  approach,  the  British  destroyed  the 
Fort  Tonyn,  erected  near  St.  Mary’s  River,  and  then  retreated  towards 
St.  Augustine.  However,  sickness  and  death  set  in  among  the  Ameri¬ 
can  forces,  and  nearly  one-fourth  of  these  were  lost,  so  that  it  was 
deemed  advisable  to  abandon  a  further  prosecution  of  that  enterprise. 

On  the  14th  of  September,  Benjamin  Franklin  was  appointed  the 
first  Ambassador  from  the  United  States  to  France.65  His  diplomatic 
work  was  still  continued,  and  it  was  successful,  by  engaging  Spain  to 
befriend  the  American  cause  in  1779,  and  Holland  the  following  year; 
while  in  the  month  of  August,  1780,  the  armed  neutrality  between 
Russia,  Sweden  and  Denmark  was  effected.  These  combinations 
powerfully  conduced  to  turn  the  people  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland 
against  Lord  North’s  ministry,  and  to  give  weight  to  the  arguments  of 
the  peace  party. 

A  number  of  Tory  refugees  and  Indians  had  fixed  themselves  in  the 
settlement  of  .Unadilla,  and  there  they  were  attacked  by  a  regiment  of 
Continental  troops,  during  the  month  of  October.  Under  John 
Johnson — a  son  of  Sir  William — the  Tories  and  the  Indians,  led  by 
Brant  had  spread  terror  for  a  long  time  through  central  New  York. 

84  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  George  65  See  Mignet’s  “  Vie  de  Franklin,” 
Washington,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xi.,  pp.  for  the  career  of  that  distinguished 
305,  306.  man  in  France. 


BRITISH  EXPEDITION  AGAINST  THE  SOUTHERN  STATES.  249 

In  revenge  for  the  destruction  of  Unadilla,  these  allies  attacked  a 
settlement  in  Cherry  Valley,  during  the  month  of  November.  A 
pitiless  massacre  there  ensued.  The  Indians  on  the  Ohio  also  gave 
much  inquietude  to  the  Americans,  and  General  Andrew  Lewis66  was 
despatched  to  restrain  their  incursions — a  task  he  very  successfully 
accomplished.  Likewise,  General  Hand67  conducted  a  successful  ex¬ 
pedition  against  the  Five  Nations  in  New  York. 

Despairing  of  subjugating  the  Northern  and  Middle  Colonies,  and 
knowing  that  Savannah  had  but  a  small  garrison  under  the  American 
General  Robert  Howe,  towards  the  close  of  1778  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
fitted  out  an  expedition  by  water  to  invade  Georgia.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Archibald  Campbell  commanded  the  2,000  troops  on  board,  and  they 
were  convoyed  by  some  ships  of  war,  commanded  by  Commodore 
Hyde  Parker.  The  British  landed  in  the  Savannah  River,  a  few  miles 
below  the  city  so  named,  and  preparations  were  made  for  an  attack  on 
that  place,  when  they  had  disembarked.  The  American  General 
attempted  a  defence,  but  his  force  was  insufficient  to  meet  the 
besiegers,  and  his  flank  being  turned,  retreat  was  impossible.  The 
British  followed  him,  and  he  suffered  considerable  loss.  Upwards  of 
one  hundred  of  the  Americans  were  killed  in  the  pursuit.  Moreover, 
38  officers  and  415  privates  were  taken  prisoners;  while  48  pieces  of 
cannon  and  23  mortars  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  victors.  Thus, 
Savannah  was  captured  by  the  British,  on  the  29th  of  December.  The 
shipping  in  the  river  and  a  large  quantity  of  provisions,  with  ammunition 
and  stores,  were  seized;  while  the  remnant  of  the  American  army 
retreated  up  the  Savannah  River  for  several  miles,  and  at  last  the 
fugitives  took  refuge  in  the  State  of  South  Carolina. 

By  land  and  sea,  some  undecisive  actions  took  place.68  On  the 
latter  element,  the  American  ships  were  very  successful  in  securing 
several  prizes.  Among  the  many  gallant  actions  performed,  those  of 
Captain  Nicholas  Biddle69  are  especially  noteworthy  in  his  ship  called 
the  Randolph,  a  frigate  carrying  thirty-two  guns.  After  a  series  of 
adventurous  cruises  and  daring  exploits  at  sea,  on  the  morning  of 
the  7th  of  March  1778,  he  fell  in  with  the  British  ship  Yarmouth  of 
sixty-four  guns,  and  commanded  by  Captain  Vincent.  Early  in  the  action, 
Captain  Biddle  was  wounded,  and  after  it  had  continued  about  twenty 
minutes,  the  Randolph  blew  up,  when  he  and  over  three  hundred  of 
his  crew  perished.70  It  has  been  stated,  that  Massachusetts  alone  had 


66  He  was  the  son  of  Irish  parents, 
and  a  native  of  Augusta  County,  Vir¬ 
ginia.  He  died  in  1778,  after  his 
return  from  the  Ohio  expedition.  See 
Thomas  B’Arcy  McGee ’s  “  History 
of  the  Irish  Settlers  of  North  Amer¬ 
ica,”  chap,  viii.,  p.  57. 

67  In  October  1778,  he  succeeded 
General  Stark  in  the  command  at 
Albany.  See  Ibid.  p.  58. 


68  See  Stedman’s  “  History  of  the 
Origin,  Progress  and  Termination  of 
the  American  War,”  Vol.  ii. ,  chaps, 
xxi.,  xxiii.  Dublin  1794.  8vo. 

69  He  was  in  Philadelphia,  in  1750. 
See  the  “  American  Biographical  Dic¬ 
tionary.” 

70  See  the  account  in  David  Ram¬ 
say’s  “  History  of  the  American  Revo,* 
lution.” 


IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


250 


nearly  as  many  seamen  fighting  the  British  at  sea,  and  engaged  in 
privateering  during  the  Revolutionary  War,  as  were  to  be  numbered  in 
the  land  army  of  all  the  other  colonies.71  Among  the  noted  privateers 
during  the  Revolution.  Luke  Ryan,72  commander  of  the  Black  Prince  and 
having  a  commission  from  the  French  Government,  was  distinguished 
as  a  daring  adventurer,  who  took  many  prizes  from  the  English. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


Ke-organization  of  Washington’s  Army — War  in  the  South — General  Tryon’s  Descent 
on  Long  Island — Attack  on  Charleston — Capture  of  Granada  by  the  French — 
Indian  Hostilities  on  the  Western  Frontiers — Naval  Exploits  of  Paul  Jones — 
Military  Operations  in  the  North — Attack  on  Savannah — Defeat  of  the  French 
and  Americans. 


In  the  beginning  of  1779,  the  army  of  Washington  had  been  strengthened 
tc  the  number  of  16,000,  and  he  began  to  re-organize  it.1  General 
Greene,  an  officer  whom  he  greatly  trusted,  was  set  over  the  quarter¬ 
master^  department;  Baron  Stuben  replaced  General  Conway  as 
Inspector-General,  and  he  greatly  improved  discipline  among  the  troops  ; 
Kosciuszko  was  Engineer  in  Chief,  and  he  was  actively  engaged  in 
fortifying  the  New  York  Highlands.  About  this  time  also,  the  services 
of  Stephen  Moylan  and  his  cavalry  were  exercised  to  great  advantage  on 
the  Hudson  River  and  in  Connecticut. 

The  British  General  Prevost,  who  then  commanded  in  Florida, 
marched  to  Sudbury  in  Georgia,  which  surrendered  January  9th. 
Afterwards,  assuming  command  at  Savannah,  he  sent  Colonel  Campbell 
against  Augusta  with  1.500  men.  With  the  surrender  of  this  place,  all 
Georgia  submitted  to  the  invaders.  These  advantages,  when  reported 


n  See  Edward  A.  Hale’s  “  Story  of 
Massachusetts.”  Boston,  D.  Lothrop 
and  Co.  :  1892,  8vo. 

12  He  was  a  native  of  Rush,  in  Ire¬ 
land.  He  was  tried  as  a  pirate  at  the 
Old  Baily,  London,  and  condemned 
for  execution.  However,  through  the 
mediation  of  the  Versailles  Court,  he 
was  afterwards  set  at  liberty  .  See  J. 
N.  Brewer’s  “Beauties  of  Ireland,” 
Vol.  i.,  p.  257,  n. 

1  From  Parliamentary  and  official 
returns,  it  appeared,  that  on  the  1st 
of  August  1777,  there  were,  including 
sick,  37,512  rank  and  file  at  New 
Vork,  and  3,362  in  other  posts. 
From  an  Army  List,  published  by 
authority  at  New  York,  it  was  stated, 
that  in  the  beginning  of  1779,  there 


were  in  America,  exclusive  of  Canada, 
British  forces,  Sir  Henry  Clinton, 
General  in  Chief,  Earl  Cornwallis, 
Lieutenant-General,  and  fifteen  Major- 
Generals,  the  17th  regiment  of  cav¬ 
alry,  two  battalions  of  guards,  and 
twenty-nine  battalions  of  the  line ; 
besides  the  Germans,  Lieutenant- 
General  Knyphausen,  and  six  Major- 
Generals,  with  twenty-two  battalions 
of  the  line ;  moreover,  exclusive  of 
artillery  and  engineers,  there  were 
twenty-five  corps  of  Provincials  and 
of  Infantry,  and  four  of  cavalry.  Be¬ 
sides  there  were  many  irregular  corps 
of  loyalists  ;  and  several  regiments  of 
militia.  See  “Correspondence  of 
Charles,  First  Marquis  of  Cornwallis,” 
edited,  with  Notes,  by  Charles  Ross, 
Esq.  Vol.  i.,  chap,  ii.,  pp.  38,  39. 


WAR  IN  THE  fcOUTH. 


251 


in  England,  were  thought  by  the  Court  party  to  herald  the  immediate 
conquest  of  the  Carolinas  by  Campbell.2  Under  the  command  of 
Colonel  Boyd,  the  Tory  inhabitants  were  then  organized.  Soon  their 
bands  became  very  troublesome,  on  the  frontiers  of  South  Carolina.3 
On  the  other  hand,  the  Irish  Presbyterians  appear  to  have  been  every¬ 
where  bitterly  anti-English,  and  outside  New  England,  it  is  probable 
they  did  more  of  the  real  fighting  of  the  Revolution  than  any  other  class.4 
The  14th  of  February,  an  encounter  took  place  between  the  Americans 
under  Pickens,  and  the  British  under  Boyd.  The  latter  suffered  a 
reverse  at  a  place  called  Kettle  Creek,  where  the  American  loss  was 
.  38,  while  that  of  the  British  amounted  to  145  men. 

The  troops  at  the  South  had  been  placed  under  the  command  of 
General  Lincoln,  who  was  now  engaged  forming  an  army  on  the 
Carolina  side  of  the  Savannah  River.  Under  General  Ashe,  a  detach¬ 
ment  was  sent  against  Augusta.  Campbell  was  obliged  to  evacuate 
that  place.  But  while  Ashe  was  engaged  in  pursuit  of  the  garrison,  on 
the  3rd  of  March  at  Briar  Creek5  near  the  Savannah  River,  the 
British  under  Prevost  came  to  their  relief,  and  attacked  the  Americans, 
who  were  now  surprised  and  greatly  outnumbered.  About  150  were 
killed  and  200  taken,  with  a  loss  of  seven  cannon,  and  almost  all  their 
arms,  ammunition  and  baggage.6  The  Americans  were  utterly  routed, 
while  the  British  loss  was  only  16.  Prevost  then  crossed  the  river  to 
invade  South  Carolina. 

The  coasts  of  Long  Island  Sound  were  ravaged  by  General  Tryon,7 
with  about  2,600  land  forces.  During  the  month  of  March  a  descent 
was  made  upon  Connecticut.  He  surprised  and  destroyed  New  Haven, 
Norwalk  and  Fairfield.8  He  also  scattered  a  small  outpost,  near  Green¬ 
wich,  where  General  Putnam  narrowly  escaped  capture.  The  fires  and 
destruction  of  property  that  accompanied  this  expedition  were  wanton  and 
shameful,  while  nearly  every  species  of  barbarity  was  practised  against  the 
unprotected  people.  The  sole  object  of  those  invaders  seemed  to  be  the 
indulgence  of  depredation,  so  as  to  cause  individual  and  general  distress.9 
However,  having  collected  his  forces,  Putnam  pursued  the  British,  re¬ 
captured  much  of  their  plunder,  and  he  took  fifty  prisoners. 


2  See  Horace  Walpole’s  “  Journal  of 
the  Reign  of  King  George  the  Third,” 
Vol  ii.,  pp.  351. 

3  See  David  Ramsay’s  “  History  of 
the  Revolution  in  South  Carolina,” 
two  vols.  Charleston,  1785,  8vo. 

4  See  William  Edward  Hartpole 
Lecky’s  “  History  of  England  in  the 
Eighteenth  Century,”  Vol.  iv.,  chap, 
xiv.,  p.  118. 

5  See  Horace  Walpole’s  “  Journal  of 
the  Reign  of  Kline  George  the  Third,” 
&c.,  Vol.  ii.,  p.  357. 

6  See  “  The  Annual  Register  for  the 

year  1779,”  Vol.  xxii.,  History  of 

Europe,  chap,  ix.,  pp.  179  to  182. 


7  He  was  the  Governor  of  New 
York,  and  he  had  urged  on  the  Bri¬ 
tish  Government  vigorous  and  hostile 
depredations,  as  a  means  to  make  the 
New  Englanders  submit  to  the  settle¬ 
ment  proposed  by  the  King’s  Com¬ 
missioners.  See  “  Documents  relating 
to  the  Colonial  History  of  New  York,” 
Vol.  viii.,  p.  750. 

8  See  William  Edward  Hartpole 
Lecky’s  “  History  of  England  in  the 
Eighteenth  Century,”  Vol.  iv.,  chap, 
xiv.,  pp.  116,  117. 

9  See  Benson  J.  Lossing’s  “  Pictorial 
Field-Book  of  the  Revolution,”  Vol. 
i.,  chap,  xviii.,  pp.  411  to  431. 


252 


IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


During  the  month  of  May,  the  British  General  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
had  despatched  an  expedition  from  New  York.  Soon  Norfolk,  Ports¬ 
mouth,  Suffolk  and  Gosport,  in  Virginia,  were  severally  attacked  and 
destroyed,  by  Sir  George  Collier  and  General  Matthew.10  Great  damage 
was  inflicted  on  shipping  and  other  property  along  the  James  and  Eliza¬ 
beth  Rivers.11  Although  their  booty  had  enriched  those  who  took  part 
in  those  ravages,  they  were  of  no  real  advantage  to  the  royal  cause.  It 
was  supposed,  that  by  involving  the  inhabitants  in  losses,  they  should 
reflect  on  the  necessity  for  submission  ;  but  the  people  had  learned  with 
pride  to  make  sacrifices  for  their  country,  while  the  irritation  and 
exasperation  caused  were  quickened  the  more  to  oppose  still  greater 
obstacles  to  a  re-union  with  the  empire.  After  a  brief  occupation,  the 
invaders  returned  to  New  York  with  their  prizes  and  plunder.12 

A  more  serious  attempt  was  to  be  directed  against  the  Carolinas 
and  Georgia.  An  attack  on  Charleston  was  now  designed  by  General 
Prevost,  and  the  Americans  prepared  for  its  defence.  He  arrived  before 
the  town  on  May  11th.  It  was  only  possible  to  collect  somewhat  less 
than  3,000  men  for  its  defence,  exclusive  of  the  town  populatian.13 
General  Lincoln  hastened  to  its  relief  by  forced  marches,  and  the  British 
retreated  by  way  of  the  Sea  Islands  on  the  coast,  where  under  protec¬ 
tion  of  a  redoubt,  part  of  their  force  remained  for  some  time.  At 
Stono  Ferry  on  the  20th  June,  the  British  under  Prevost  engaged  the 
Americans  under  Lincoln.  Prevost  attempted  to  carry  their  strong 
position,  but  he  was  repulsed.  The  Americans  lost  300  men  in  this 
action,  while  the  British  loss  was  estimated  at  270. 

A  British  force  from  Neva  Scotia  had  established  a  post  on  Penob¬ 
scot  Bay,  under  Colonel  Macleane.  The  people  of  Massachusetts  resolved 
on  breaking  it  up,  and  for  that  purpose  they  sent  an  expedition  in  July 
of  nineteen  armed  vessels,  under  direction  of  a  sea  captain  named 
Saltonstall  from  Connecticut.14  General  Lovel  and  fiteen  hundred 
militia  went  on  board.  This  expedition  was  mismanaged,  and  it  proved 
to  be  a  total  failure.15  While  Colonel  Macleane  was  sustaining  a  siege 
in  the  fort  he  occupied,  Sir  George  Collier  and  a  squadron  from  New 
York  arrived  in  time  for  his  relief.  The  Americans  at  first  made  a  show 
of  resistance.  This,  however,  was  only  to  gain  time,  so  that  the  trans¬ 
ports  might  move  higher  up  the  river.  That  effort,  however,  proved  to 
be  unsuccessful.16  The  American  ships  were  all  lost,  while  the  soldiers 
who  escaped  from  the  British  took  to  the  woods,  through  which  they 


10  See  William  Edward  Hartpole 
Lecky’s  “  History  of  England  in  the 
Eighteenth  Century,”  Vol.  iv.,  chap 
xiv.,  p.  116. 

11  See  “The  Annual  Register  for 
the  year  1779,”  Vol.  xxii.,  History  of 
Europe,  chap.  ix..  pp.  186,  187. 

12  See  George  Bancroft’s  “History 
<  of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  x.,  chap. 

X-,  p.  223. 

!  13  See  David  Ramsay’s  “  History  of 


the  American  Revolution,”  Vol.  ii., 
p.  155. 

14  See  Benson  J.  Lossing’s  “  Pictorial 
Field-Book  of  the  Revolution,”  Vol. 
ii.,  chap,  i.,  p.  26. 

15  See  “The  Annual  Register  for 
the  year  1779,”  Vol.  xxii.,  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  ix.,  p.  195. 

16  See  Lord  Mahon’s  “History  of 
England  from  the  Peace  of  Utrecht,” 
Vol  vi  ,  chap,  iviii.,  p.  414. 


CAPTURE  OP  GRANADA  BY  THE  FRENCH. 


253 


wandered  nearly  one  hundred  miles,  before  they  reached  any  human 
habitation.17 

Failing  in  the  attempt  on  Newport,  the  French  Admiral  directed  his 
course  towards  the  West  Indies,  when  he  had  refitted  at  Boston.18 
While  awaiting  reinforcements  expected  from  France,  Count  d’Estaing 
made  a  descent  on  the  Island  of  Granada,  On  the  4th  of  July,  at  the 
head  of  Dillon’s  Regiment,  he  bravely  assaulted  the  English  fort  of  the 
Hospital,  With  remarkable  daring,  these  Irish-French  soldiers  carried 
Granada,  and  it  was  taken  from  the  British.19  Having  learned  that 
Admiral  Byron,  with  an  English  squadron,  was  approaching  to  attack 
the  place,  half  of  Dillon’s  battalion  served  on  board  the  French  fleet. 
A  naval  engagement  took  place  on  the  6th  of  July,  when  the  French 
were  victors.20 

The  British  commander,  Lieutenant  Governor  Henry  Hamilton  at 
Detroit  had  instigated  the  Indians  to  operate  against  Colonel  George 
Rogers  Clarke,  who  with  a  force  of  adventurous  pioneers  had  captured 
several  posts  north  of  the  Ohio  River.  Hamilton  had  taken  post  at 
Vincennes  during  the  winter,  intending  to  attack  the  Virginian  settle¬ 
ments  with  the  advance  of  spring.  However,  he  was  there  surprised 
on  the  23rd  of  February,  and  the  next  day  he  surrendered  the  fort  to 
Clarke  and  to  the  French  inhabitants.  A  convoy  of  British  goods  and 
provisions  coming  there  from  Detroit  was  likewise  intercepted  ;  and 
thus,  the  whole  intended  expedition  was  nipped  in  the  bud.21 

During  the  summer  of  this  year,  three  brigades  from  Washington’s 
army  were  placed  under  the  command  of  General  Sullivan,  and  sent 
against  the  Six  Nations  of  Indians  in  Western  New  York.22  A  large 
force  of  Tories  and  Indians,  led  by  Brant,  Johnston,  and  the  Butlers, 
was  concentrated  at  Newtown,  now  Elmira,  in  the  State  of  New  York. 
James  Clinton  commanded  a  detachment  of  sixteen  hundred  men,  which 
was  sent  into  that  country  in  order  to  assist  Sullivan’s  expedition 
against  the  hostile  Indians.23  These  collected  in  all  their  strength 


17  See  John  R.  G.  Hassard’s  “  His¬ 
tory  of  the  United  States  of  America,” 
chap,  xxxi.,  p.  205. 

18  See  Judge  Marshall’s  “Life  of 
George  Washington,”  etc.,  Vol.  iii., 
chap,  ix.,  p.  568. 

19  See  Ur.  John  Campbell’s  “  Naval 
History  of  Great  Britain,  including 
the  History  and  Lives  of  the  British 
Admirals,”  Vol.  v.,  chap,  xxvi.,  pp. 
452,  453.  London,  1813,  in  eight 
8vo.  vols. 

20  See  “  The  Annual  Register  for 
the  year  1779,”  Vol.  xxii.,  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  x.,  pp.  199  to  206. 

21  See  George  Bancroft' s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  x.,  chap, 
viii.,  pp.  194  to  201. 

22  See  Benson  J.  Lossing’s  “  Pictorial 


Field-Book  of  the  Revolution,”  Vol. 
i.,  chap,  xii.,  pp.  270  to  277. 

23  Clinton  was  subsequently  attached 
to  the  main  army,  and  he  was  present 
at  the  capture  of  Cornwallis.  When 
the  British  evacuated  New  York,  Clin¬ 
ton  made  his  last  appearance  in  arms. 
He  afterwards  retired  to  his  ample 
estates.  He  was  not  suffered  always 
to  enjoy  the  repose  he  had  so  fairly 
earned ;  but,  on  several  occasions,  he 
was  called  to  receive  unsolicited  civic 
honours.  He  was  one  of  the  Conven¬ 
tion  that  formed  the  present  Federal 
Constitution.  James  Clinton  was 
one  of  the  most  sincere  patriots  the 
Revolution  afforded.  He  was  as 
superior  in  his  qualifications  for  a 
military  life  as  hs  brother  was  in 


254 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


LQJ 


and  selected  a  strong  position,  which  was  fortified  with  great  judcrment. 
When  Sullivan  approached,  he  opened  on  the  enemy’s  works  with  a  can¬ 
nonade  which  lasted  two  hours.  The  assault  given  caused  great  loss  to 
the  defenders.  On  the  29th  of  August  this  encounter  took  place.24  The 
British  and  their  allies  were  completely  routed,  and  when  their  trenches 
were  forced,  they  fled  in  consternation,  making  no  attempt  to  rally. 
Afterwards,  Sullivan  ravaged  the  whole  Genesee  valley,  and  he  burned 
all  the  Indian  villages.  Many  of  their  houses  were  very  commodious, 
and  fine  fields  of  corn  surrounded  them.26  He  also  destroyed  their 
crops,  as  his  purpose .  was  to  lay  waste  their  whole  region,  so  that  the 
savages  could  find  no  future  shelter  in  it.26 

An  adventurous  and  a  brave  mariner,  who  figured  in  the  American 
Revolution,  was  the  celebrated  Scotchman  John  Paul  Jones.27  Having 
procured  in  1777  the  command  of  an  eighteen  gun  vessel  called  the 
Ranger,  he  made  a  successful  cruise,  and  captured  several  valuable 
English  prizes.  In  1778  he  made  a  descent  on  Whitehaven  in 
Scotland,  and  took  two  forts,  having  spiked  thirty  pieces  of  cannon. 
Subsequently,  he  fitted  out  in  France  a  squadron  of  five  vessels.28 
One  of  these,  an  old  Indiaman,  had  been  altered  and  equipped  as  a 
man-of-war,  but  that  ship  was  imperfectly  provided  with  guns  and 
material.  She  was  named  the  Bon  Homme  Richard,29  and  on  this 
vessel  the  flag  of  Paul  Jones  was  hoisted.  He  sailed  from  L’Orient 
France,  and  in  August  1777,  he  hovered  round  the  coast  of  Kerry,30 
Afterwards,  he  spread  terror  along  the  eastern  shores  of  England ; 
for  in  the  course  of  a  month,  he  captured  or  destroyed  no  less 
than  twenty-3ix  vessels.  A  fleet  of  merchant  ships  was  descried 
September  23rd,  under  the  convoy  of  two  powerful  men-of-war,  the 
Serapis  Captain  Pierson,  and  the  Countess  of  Scarborough  Captain 
Piercy,  off  Flamborough  Head,  on  the  coast  of  Yorkshire.  With  two 
of  his  ships,  Jones  gave  chase.  After  nightfall,  he  came  up  with  the 
Serapis.  Making  ready  for  action,  after  trying  vain  manoeuvres  to 


fitness  for  civil  duties.  In  battle,  he 
was  cool,  ready  and  courageous.  No 
crisis,  however  unexpected,  destroyed 
the  balance  of  his  mind.  In  temper 
he  was  usually  mild  and  affectionate ; 
but,  his  passions  were  strong,  and 
when  once  aroused,  terrific.  See  “  The 
Heroes  of  the  Revolution.” 

24  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,”  etc.,  Yol.  i.,  chap,  xii., 
pp.  320,  321. 

25  See  William  Edward  Hartpole 
Lecky’s  “  History  of  England  in  the 
Eighteenth  Century,”  Yol  iv.,  chap, 
xiv.,  p.  117. 

26  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  x.,  chap, 
x.,  pp.  230  to  232. 

*7  His  Life  has  been  written  by  John 


H.  Sherburne.  New  York,  1851,  2nd 
edition. 

28  See  William  Edward  Hartpole 
Lecky’s  “  History  of  England  in  the 
Eighteenth  Century,”  Vol.  iv.,  chap, 
xiv.,  page  113. 

29  This  name  was  given  as  a  compli¬ 
ment  to  Dr.  Franklin,  then  in  France 
and  agent  for  the  United  States,  in 
allusion  to  his  well  remembered  publi¬ 
cation  of  “  Poor  Richard’s  Almanac.” 

30  According  to  the  statement  of  Mr. 
Lecky,  and  referring  to  this  period, 
Ireland  “  had  been  left  almost  defence¬ 
less,  and  was  in  a  condition  of  extreme 

Seril.  The  Presbyterians  of  the 
forth  openly  sympathised  with  the 
Americans.” — “History  of  England 
in  the  Eighteenth  Century,”  Vol.  iv., 
chap,  xiv.,  p.  114. 


NAVAL  EXPLOITS  OP  JOHN  PAUL  JONES. 


255 


6oard,  Jones  lashed  his  ship  side  by  side,  the  muzzles  of  the  guns  in 
both  vessels  actually  touching.  Then,  a  furious  canonade  began.31  On 
board  of  the  Bon  Homme  Richard  two  of  the  guns  burst  during  the 
engagement,  which  caused  great  damage  to  the  vessel  and  her  crew. 
For  fully  three  hours,  this  desperate  combat  lasted.  A  dreadful  ex¬ 
plosion  took  place  on  board  the  Serapis,  and  which  destroyed  several 
officers  and  men.  Crowds  of  people  lined  the  shore  as  spectators,  for 
that  engagement  was  fought  in  their  view  and  by  moonlight.  In  two 
different  places,  fire  broke  out  on  board  the  Bon  Homme  Richard.  How¬ 
ever,  after  dreadful  carnage  on  both  s'des,32  the  Serapis,  a  much  finer  and 
heavier  ship,  struck  her  flag.  Paul  Jones  and  his  crew  now  abandoned 
their  own  vessel  and  went  on  board  the  prize.  A  few  hours  later,  the 
Bon  Homme  Richard  foundered  and  sank.  The  Countess  of  Scarborough, 
in  like  manner,  struck  to  one  of  his  other  ships.33  A  third  vessel  of 
Jones’  squadron,  commanded  by  a  French  officer  named  Landay,  gave 
little  or  no  assistance  during  that  obstinate  combat. 

The  erection  of  two  forts  had  been  ordered,  to  command  the  crossing  at 
King’s  Ferry  on  the  River  Hudson  ;  one  of  these  was  to  be  built  at  Stony 
Point,  on  the  west  bank,  the  other  was  to  be  at  Verplanck’s  Point,  on 
the  opposite  side.  While  the  works  were  still  unfinished,  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  had  captured  Stony  Point,  and  the  British  then  occupied  that 
post.  Whereupon,  Yerplanck’s  Point  was  obliged  also  to  surrender. 
Washington  deemed  the  recapture  of  these  to  be  very  important  for  his 
communications.  On  the  15th  of  July,  General  Wayne  was  instructed  to 
attack  Stony  Point,  about  forty-two  miles  above  New  York,  and  it  was 
the  strongest  fortress  on  the  Hudson  River.  A  night  assault  was  planned 
by  Washington,  and  it  was  conducted  with  consummate  skill  and  bravery. 
Lieut. -Colonel  Johnson  was  in  command  of  the  British.  Their  position 
seemed  almost  impregnable.  Situated  upon  a  huge  rocky  bluff,  an  island 
at  high  water,  and  always  inaccessible  dry-shod,  except  across  the 
narrow  causeway  in  the  rear,  it  was  strongly  defended  by  outworks  and 
by  a  double  row  of  abatis ,34  Upon  three  sides  of  the  rock  were  the  waters 
of  the  Hudson,  and  on  the  fourth  was  a  morass  deep  and  dangerous. 
But  Wayne  was  not  easily  deterred  by  obstacles.  He  resolved  at  all 
hazards  to  storm  the  fort.  He  only  waited  for  the  ebbing  of  the  tide, 
and  the  first  deep  slumber  of  the  garrison,  for  moving  towards  the  works. 
His  troops  were  divided  into  two  columns.  Lieutenant  De  Fleur}’-,  a 
Frenchman,  led  the  van  of  the  right,  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  volun- 


31  Matthew  Mease,  an  Irishman, 
was  the  purser  in  the  “  Bon  Homme 
Richard”  with  Paul  Jones;  he  volun¬ 
teered  to  serve  the  guns,  in  the  fam¬ 
ous  battle  between  that  ship  and  the 
Serapis. 

32  According  to  Dr.  John  Campbell, 
“  the  loss  of  the  Serapis  was  forty- 
nine  killed,  and  sixty-eight  wounded; 
that  of  the  Bon  Homme  Richard  was 
three  hundred  and  six  killed 


and  wounded.” — “Naval  History  of 
Great  Britain,”  etc.,  Vol.  v.,  chap, 
xxvi.,  p.  459. 

33  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol  x.,  chap, 
xii.,  pp.  271,  272. 

34  The  works  of  Stony  Point  and 
Verplanck’s  Point  are  shown  on  a 
map,  in  “The  Writings  of  George 
Washington,”  etc.,  Vol.  vi.,  p.  304. 
Edition  of  Jared  Sparks. 


*256 


IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


teers.  The  van  of  the  left  was  led  by  Major  Stewart,  an  Irishman,  and 
it  consisted  of  one  hundred  volunteers,  with  -unloaded  muskets  and 
fixed  bayonets.  While  directing  that  assault  ayne  was  severely 
wounded.36  An  avant-guard  of  twenty  picked  men  for  each  company, 
under  Lieutenants  James  Gibbons36  and  Knox,  had  proceeded  to  remove 
the  abatis  and  other  obstructions.  These  vans  composed  the  forlorn 
hope.  Of  Lieutenant  Gibbons’  twenty  men,  seventeen  were  killed  or 
wounded.37  There  were  other  distinguished  Irish  officers  with  Wayne 
on  that  occasion.  Colonel  Moylan  rushed  side  by  side  with  him  up  the 
heights.  Colonel  Butler  led  his  regiment  in  person,  and  Major  Murphy 
commanded  two  companies.38  The  fort  was  captured,  with  a  loss  of  98 
men  to  the  Americans.39  The  storming  and  capture  of  Stony  Point  was 
regarded  as  the  most  brilliant  event  of ‘the  war.  The  victors,  Wayne, 
De  Fluery,  and  Stewart,  were  awarded  medals  by  Congress.  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  came  up  the  river  in  force  soon  afterwards,  and  thus  he  saved 
Verplanck’s  Point.  Not  choosing  to  risk  a  general  engagement, 
Washington  then  caused  Stony  Point  to  be  evacuated.  However,  these 
posts  were  held  by  the  English  for  no  very  lengthened  period.  Having  re¬ 
resolved  to  transfer  all  his  available  troops  southwards  in  October,  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  abandoned  not  only  those  forts,  but  likewise,  Newport  in 
Rhode  Island,  while  be  strengthened  the  fortifications  of  New  York.  At 
Paulus  Hook,  now  Jersey  City,  on  the  18th  of  August  Major  Henry 
Lee  obtained  a  victory  over  the  British,  who  were  surprised  during  the 
night.  One  hundred  and  fifty-nine  prisoners  were  captured.40 

The  British  held  Savannah,  with  a  very  considerable  force  of  nearly 
2,000  men,  about  this  period.  Having  received  directions  from  the 
French  king,  to  co-operate  with  the  Americans  in  the  Southern  States, 
Count  D’Estaing  sailed  from  the  West  Indies,  on  the  1st  of  September, 
and  soon  he  arrived  off  the  coast  of  Georgia,  with  twenty  sail  of  the 
line,  two  ships  of  fifty  guns  each,  and  eleven  frigates.  His  appearance 
was  so  unexpected,  that  he  captured  an  English  man-of-war  and  three 
frigates.  In  a  short  time,  the  American  General  Lincoln  moved  from 
his  encampment,  ordering  the  militia  of  Georgia  and  of  South  Carolina 
to  rendezvous  in  the  vicinity  of  Savannah,  where  General  Prevost  com¬ 
manded  the  garrison.  Before  their  arrival,  however,  D’Estaing  had 
demanded  the  surrender  of  the  town.  To  gain  time,  Prevost  asked  for 
a  suspension  of  hostilities  during  twenty-four  hours,  to  propose  specific 
terms.  This  request  was  granted  j  but  before  the  expiration  of  that 


35  See  Michaud’s  “  Biographie  Uni* 
verselle,  ancienne  et  moderne,”  etc.. 
Tome  xliv.,  p.  399. 

36  An  Irish- American. 

37  Afterwards  he  became  Colonel. 
He  died  July  1st  1834,  at  Richmond, 
in  his  77th  year.  “  American  Alma¬ 
nac,”  1835. 

38  In  a  letter  from  General  Anthony 
Wayne  to  General  Washington,  dated 


July,  1779,  there  is  an  account  of 
that  assault,  in  “The  Writings  of 
George  Washington,”  Yol.  vi.,  Ap 
pendix  No.  VI.,  pp.  537  to  540. 
Edition  of  Jared  Sparks. 

39  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,”  etc.,  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xii., 
pp.  323  to  325. 

40  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Yol.  x.,  chap, 
x.;  pp  223  to  230. 


ATTACK  ON  SAVANNAH.  257 

time,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Maitland  with  several  hundred  men  had 
arrived  as  a  reinforcement,  and  this  fortunate  junction  of  their  forces 
encouraged  the  English  to  offer  an  effectual  resistance.  A  fear  was 
entertained  by  the  marine  officers,  lest  the  French  fleet  might  be  sur¬ 
prised  by  a  superior  English  armament,  or  be  exposed  to  the  action  of 
storms  on  a  dangerous  coast ;  and  as  the  operations  of  a  regular  siege 
must  necessarily  be  slow,  the  leaders  rashly  determined  to  carry  the 
well  fortified  town  by  assault.41 

The  besieged  had  strengthened  their  position  with  additional  defen¬ 
sive  works,  so  that  the  leaders  and  united  army  of  the  French  and  of 
the  Americans  prepared  for  an  attack  by  regular  approaches.  The 
regiments  under  Count  Dillon’s  command  landed,  while  the  French 
fleet  took  up  the  nearest  position  possible  to  co-operate  ;  and,  on  the  4th 
of  October  a  furious  cannonade  was  opened  from  their  land  and  sea 
batteries.  A  large  American  militia  force  was  drafted  to  make  a  false 
attack,  while  the  real  object  of  assault  was  Spring  Hill  battery,  in 
advance  of  the  British  position.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  9th,  3,500 
French  troops,  600  Continentals  and  350  citizens  of  Charleston,  moved 
forward,  under  their  respective  leaders,  Count  D’Estaing  and  General 
Lincoln.  But  a  terrific  fire  from  the  English  batteries  and  a  cross-fire 
from  their  galleys  met  this  storming  division  and  tore  the  heads  of 
columns.  The  supporting  force  under  Count  Dillon  failed  to  carry  the 
place  by  assault,42  although  two  French  standards  were  planted  on 
the  British  redoubts  by  the  gallant  Irish  Major  Brown.43  While 
making  the  third  attempt  he  was  killed.44  The  Irish  Colonel  Lynch,45 
of  the  regiment  of  Walsh,  was  distinguished  for  his  coolness  and 
bravery  at  Savannah.46  The  gallant  efforts  of  a  brave  Irish- American 


41  This  decision  of  the  Admiral  was 
taken  contrary  to  the  opinions  of  his 
other  officers.  The  brave  Major  Brown 
remarked  to  the  Count,  that  although 
disapproving  of  such  an  operation,  no 
cause  of  complaint  should  lie  against 
his  own  conduct. 

42  One  company  of  the  regiment  of 
Dillon,  which  consisted  of  194  men, 
was  ordered  to  charge  against  an  Eng¬ 
lish  battery ;  the  assailants  did  so, 
and  only  96  men  returned  alive. 

43  He  was  aid-de-camp  to  the  Count 
D’Estaing. 

44  No  less  than  sixty-three  of  his 
grenadiers  were  killed  or  wounded, 
without  counting  the  fusiliers. 

45  He  had  previously  served  with 
distinction,  in  the  campaigns  of  India. 

46  At  the  most  critical  moment  of 
that  sanguinary  affair,  being  at  the 
head  of  the  right  of  his  column,  Count 
D’Estaing  directed  Lynch  to  carry  an 
urgent  order  to  the  third  column, 


which  was  on  the  left.  These-  columns 
were  within  grape  shot  range  of  the 
enemy’s  entrenchments,  and  on  both 
sides  a  tremendous  firing  was  main¬ 
tained.  Instead  of  passing  through 
the  centre  or  in  the  rere  of  the 
columns,  Lynch  proceeded  cooly 
through  the  shower  of  balls  and  grape 
shot,  which  the  French  and  English 
were  firing  at  each  other.  It  was  in 
vain  that  M.  D’Estaing  and  those 
who  surrounded  him  cried  out,  that 
he  should  take  another  direction. 
Lynch  went  on,  executed  his  order, 
and  returned  unhurt  the  very  same 
way.  When  remonstrated  with  for 
his  rashness,  and  asked  why  he  chose 
such  a  course :  “  Because  it  was  the 
shortest,”  he  anwered.  Having  uttered 
these  few  words  he  went  with  equal 
coolness,  and  joined  a  group  that  was 
most  earnestly  engaged  in  storming 
the  place.  He  was  afterwards  pro¬ 
moted  to  the  rank  of  Lieutenant- Gen- 

S 


258  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Sergeant  William  Jasper47  are  memorable  in  American  history,  and 
his  life  was  there  sacrificed  to  save  the  American  flag.48  Count  D’Estaing 
was  wounded  in  the  assault,  which  lasted  fifty-five  minutes,  and 
it  ended  in  disaster  to  the  assailants.  The  brave  Pole  Count 
Pulaski  of  the  Continental  army,  was  mortally  wounded.49  A  heroic 
Irishman,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Humphrey  O’Dunne,  was  greatly  dis¬ 
tinguished  for  his  intrepidity  under  this  terrible  fire,  which  he  escaped, 
to  gain  future  honours  in  the  field.  But,  retreat  was  inevitable. 
No  less  than  eight  hundred  and  twenty-one  men  of  the  French  attacking 
division  were  killed  and  wounded,  and,  among  these  figure  the  Irish 
names  of  Brown,  major  of  Dillon’s  regiment,  colonel  of  infantry ;  O’Neill 
and  Moran,  captains ;  Taafe,  lieutenant ;  Roche,  officer  of  artillery ; 
Rogers,  captain  in  the  regiment  of  Guadaloupe,  with  many  other  Irish 
names  of  sub-officers.50  About  four  hundred  of  the  American  forces 
were  killed  and  wounded.51  The  loss  sustained  by  the  British  was 
comparatively  insignificant.  The  American  militia  dispersed  to  their 
homes,  when  Count  D’Estaing  re-embarked  his  surviving  troops  and 
sailed  for  the  West  Indies.  The  patriots  of  Georgia,  who  had  joined 
them,  fled  to  the  backwoods  or  across  the  river.  The  militia  of  South 
Carolina  returned  to  their  homes,  and  General  Lincoln  repaired  to 
Charleston,  followed  by  what  remained  of  his  army.52 

50  See  an  Article  by  William  J. 
Onahan,  published  in  Donohoe’s 
“Magazine,”  Vol.  v.,  pp.  99  to  102. 
“  An  Irish  Brigade  commanded  by- 
Count  Arthur  Dillon,  at  the  Siege  of 
Savannah,  1779.” 

51  William  Thompson  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  a  relative  of 
Charles  Thompson,  the  secretary  of 
the  Continental  Congress.  He  was 
bom  about  the  year  1727,  and  while 
a  child,  he  was  taken  to  Orangeburg 
district,  in  South  Carolina.  Re  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  Third  Regi¬ 
ment,  called  the  Rangers.  With  his 
regiment,  he  fought  in  the  battle  of 
Sullivan’s  Island  in  1776.  He  was 
with  General  Howe  in  Georgia,  and 
he  served  under  the  command  of 
D’Estaing  at  Savannah.  He  behaved 
gallantly,  and  suffered  much  during 
the  greater  part  of  the  war.  See  Loss- 
ing’s  “  Pictorial  Field-Book  of  the  Re¬ 
volution.” 

82  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Yol.  x.,  chap, 
xiii.,  pp.  296  to  298. 


eral.  He  commanded  the  French 
infantry  in  the  first  engagement  they 
had  with  the  Prussians,  on  the 
Heights  of  Valmy,  in  the  year  1792. 
These  particulars  have  been  related  by 
the  Count  de  Segur. 

47  He  was  born  in  South  Carolina  about 
the  year  1750,  and  he  enlisted  as  a 
sergeant  in  the  Second  South  Carolina 
Regiment.  As  a  guerilla  chief  he  was 
distinguished  in  his  native  State. 

48  During  the  bombardment  of  Fort 
Sullivan,  near  Charleston,  on  the  28th 
of  June  1776,  the  American  flag-staff 
with  the  colours  had  been  shot  down 
from  a  British  ship.  They  fell  to  the 
bottom  of  a  ditch,  which  was  outside 
the  works.  Jasper  leaped  the  parapet, 
walked  the  length  of  the  fort,  and 
picked  up  the  flag.  In  the  midst 
of  the  iron  hail  pouring  on  the  fortress, 
and  in  the  sight  of  the  whole  British 
fleet,  he  fixed  the  flag  firmly  on  the 
bastion.  He  received  his  death  wound 
at  Savannah,  while  attempting  to  plant 
the  colours  of  his  regiment  on  the 
English  redoubt. 

49  He  died  October  11th. 


POSITION  OF  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 


259 


CHAPTER  XVII, 

Position  of  General  Washington  at  the  Opening  of  17S0—  Siege  and  Capture  of 
Charleston  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton — Financial  Depression — General  Gates  in 
the  South  — Partisan  Chiefs  and  their  Raids — Brutality  of  Lord  Cornwallis — 
American  Victory  at  King’s  Mountain — Treason  of  General  Arnold — Mutiny 
in  the  American  Army. 

During  the  winter  season  of  1779  and  the  ensuing  spring  General 
Washington  was  obliged  to  assume  merely  a  defensive  position  at  West- 
point  while,  in  the  Southern  States,  the  Americans  and  French  were 
destined  to  sustain  serious  losses.  However,  without  additional  rein¬ 
forcement,  the  English  army  could  not  leave  New  York.  The  American 
troops  had  been  quartered  in  Morristown,2  from  the  middle  of  February, 
1780,  to  the  following  month  of  May;  but  they  numbered  only  about 
7,000  men,  and  of  these  the  most  considerable  portion  was  Irish.3  At 
the  present  juncture,  their  General  could  only  maintain  an  attitude  of 
observance  for  want  of  additional  forces.4 


1  Dr.  Corcoran,  Irishman,  was 
Surgeon-General  of  the  Middle  De¬ 
partment  of  the  Revolutionary  army, 
and  afterwards  he  became  the 
Director-General  of  Hospitals  in  the 
United  States. 

2  Mr.  Galloway,  speaker  of  the 
House  of  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania, 
in  his  examination  before  a  committee 
of  the  English  House  of  Commons, 
June  fith  17  /9,  wl  en  asked  this  question 
about  soldiers  in  the  service  of  the  Con¬ 
gress,  “  Were  they  chiefly  composed 
of  the  natives  of  America,  or  were 
the  greatest  part  of  them  English?” 
he  answered  :  “  The  names  and  places  of 
their  nativity  being  taken  down,  I  can 
answer  the  question  with  precision. 
There  were  scarcely  one-fourth  natives 
of  America ;  about  one-half  Irish,  the 
other  fourth  were  English  and 
Scotch.”  See  also  Benson  J.  Lossing’s 
“  Pictorial  Field-Book  of  the  Revolu¬ 
tion,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xiv.,  p.  309. 

3During  this  period,  the  day  of 
Ireland’s  National  Apostle  was  cele¬ 
brated  with  universal  military  re¬ 
joicings  ;  while  the  Commander- in- 
Chief  congratulated  the  troops  on 
tidings  lately  received,  that  the  Parlia¬ 
ment  of  Ireland  had  not  only  engaged 
on  proceedings  “  calculated  to  remove 
the  heavy  and  tyrannical  oppressions 
on  their  trade,  but  to  restore  to  a 


brave  and  generous  people  their 
ancient  rights  and  privileges,  and  in 
their  operation  to  promote  the  cause 
of  America.”  He  then  ordered,  “  that 
all  fatigue  and  working  parties  cease 
for  to-morrow,  the  17th  day,  held  in 
particular  regard  by  the  people  of 
that  nation.”  On  the  day  itself 
followed  these  Division  Orders,  March 
17  1780: — “The  commanding  officer 
desires  that  the  celebration  of  the 
day  should  not  pass  by  without  hav¬ 
ing  a  little  rum  issued  to  the  troops, 
and  has  thought  proper  to  direct  the 
commissary  to  send  for  the  hogshead 
which  the  colonel  has  purchased 
already  in  the  vicinity  of  the  camp. 
While  the  troops  are  celebrating  the 
bravery  of  St.  Patrick  in  innocent 
mirth  and  pastime,  he  hopes  they  will 
not  forget  their  worthy  friends  in  the 
kingdom  of  Ireland,  who  with  the 
greatest  unanimity,  have  stepped  in 
opposition  to  the  tyrant,  Great 
Britain,  and  who,  like  -us,  are  deter 
mined  to  die  or  be  free.  The  troops 
will  conduct  themselves  with  the 
greatest  sobriety  and  good  order.” 

4  The  difficulties  under  which  the 
American  Commander-in-Chief  labour¬ 
ed  are  well  set  forth,  in  “  Washing¬ 
ton’s  Private  Diarv,”  edited  by  John 
Gilmarv  Shea,  and  published  in  New 
York,  '1861. 


260  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Having  placed  New  York  in  a  state  for  defence,  and  leaving  Lieu* 
tenant-General  Knyphausen  in  command,  Sir  Henry  Clinton  resolved 
to  sail  for  the  South,  and  to  conduct  an  enterprise  having  for  its 
immediate  object  the  capture  of  Charleston,  then  garrisoned  by  a  small 
body  of  Continentals  under  General  Lincoln.  Accordingly,  a  fleet, 
commanded  by  Admiral  Arbuthnot,  and  having  on  board  a  land  force 
of  five  thousand  men,  besides  two  thousand  marines,  left  New  York 
harbour  towards  the  close  of  December  17 79, 5  The  English  Com- 
mander-in-Chief  then  sailed  onwards  towards  Georgia.  After  a  tedious 
and  dangerous  passage  he  reached  Savannah,  and  in  February  1780,  he 
disembarked  on  the  islands  below  Charleston,  to  prepare  for  its  siege.6 
On  the  land  side,  that  town  was  completely  invested  by  the  British 
army.  But,  having  lost  most  of  their  artillery,  a  great  part  of  their 
ordnance,  and  all  their  cavalry  horses,  during  the  tempestuous  weather 
at  sea,  Sir  Henry  Clinton  despatched  an  order  to  New  York  for  reim 
forcements  of  men  and  stores,  while  1,200  .men  were  ordered  from  the 
garrison  of  Savannah. 

Had  Lincoln  acted  judiciously,  he  should  have  abandoned  Charles¬ 
ton,  having  no  adequate  means  for  defence  against  those  forces  now 
concentrated  against  it.  Instead  of  taking  this  course,  he  called  into 
that  place  all  the  troops  he  could  collect  from  the  outposts.  He  traced 
out  lines  and  threw  up  redoubts,  while  the  defensive  works  were 
strengthened  and  extended.  Several  sallies  were  made  by  the  garrison 
to  keep  open  communications  with  the  interior.  However,  the  Com¬ 
mander  of  the  British  cavalry  was  able  to  hold  the  American  detach¬ 
ment  in  check.  Especially,  on  the  14th  of  April,  at  Monk’s  Corner, 
about  thirty  miles  from  Charleston,  Lieutenant-General  Tarleton  en¬ 
countered  fourteen  hundred  American  cavalry,  and  these  were  routed 
with  considerable  loss.  The  American  squadron  fell  back  to  Fort 
Moultrie,  and  afterwards  to  Charleston,  as  the  greatly  superior  marine 
force  of  the  British  passed  the  bar  on  a  flowing  tide.  The  investiture 
of  that  town  was  then  speedily  completed,  both  by  land  and  sea.  More¬ 
over  about  this  time,  Sir  Henry  Clinton  received  a  reinforcement  of  3,000 
men  from  New  York.7  Siege  works  were  thrown  up,  and  a  cannon¬ 
ade  began  on  the  12th  of  April.  An  attempt  was  made  to  obtain  terms 
for  surrender,  which  the  British  commander  wrould  not  accept.  Hosti¬ 
lities  then  recommenced.  When  the  city  could  resist  no  longer,  Lincoln 
was  obliged  to  capitulate.  Six  thousand  soldiers  and  male  citizens  were 
made  prisoners  of  war.  During  that  siege  the  losses  were  nearly  equal 
on  both  sides  in  killed  and  wounded.  On  the  12th  of  May,  Charleston 
surrendered  to  the  English.8  The  town  was  plundered  by  them  when 


5  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,”  &c.,  Yol.  i.,  chap,  xii., 
p.  330. 

6  See  David  Ramsay’s  “  History  of 
South  Carolina.”  The  author  of  this 
work  was  an  Irish-American,  and  he 
became  also  the  historian  of  the 


American  Revolution.  He  was  a 
learned  and  an  ingenious  man,  sin¬ 
cerely  religious,  austerely  moral,  and 
warmly  patriotic. 

7  See  Hugh  Murray’s  “  United  States 
of  America,”  Vol.  ii. ,  chap,  ii.,  p.  63. 

8  See  Benson  J.  Lossing’s  “  Pictorial 


FINANCIAL  DEPRESSION.  26 1, 

they  obtained  possession.  The  negroes  there  found  were  shipped  off  to 
the  West  Indies,  where  they  were  sold  to  other  masters.9 

At  the  beginning  of  1780,  the  enormous  sum  of  two  hundred  millions 
of  dollars  had  been  issued  by  Congress,  and  no  part  of  their  debt  had  been 
redeemed.  Being  aware  of  these  financial  embarrassments  of  the  patriots, 
their  English  enemies  flooded  the  country  with  counterfeits  of  cont  inental 
emissions.  Everywhere,  aided  by  the  loyalists,  those  counterfeits  were 
circulated,  and  the  result  was,  that  the  continental  money  became  almost 
worthless.10  Prices  rose  as  the  money  sank  in  value,  and  every  branch 
of  trade  was  deranged.  Moreover,  both  in  1779  and  1780,  the  seasons 
were  unfavourable  for  the  crops.  Congress  was  powerless  to  stay  a 
downward  tendency  of  the  currency,  although  they  had  recommended  a 
plan  to  regulate  prices  on  the  basis  of  twenty  dollars  to  one  of  specie. 
The  paper  money  continued  to  depreciate,  and  prices  still  began  to  rise. 
Forty  dollar  bills,  in  1780,  were  only  worth  one  dollar  in  specie.  Had 
it  not  been  for  an  extraordinary  effort  of  patriotism  on  the  part  of  the 
Philadelphia  merchants,  the  army  must  have  been  disbanded.11  A  bank 
was  established  in  June  1780,  and  by  private  association,  to  support  the 
credit  of  Congress.12  This  bank  continued  to  exist  during  the  war,  and 
then  it  gave  way  to  the  bank  of  North  America.13  Owing  to  such  a 
timely  expedient,  the  war  was  enabled  to  go  forward,  and  Washington 
found  himself  free  to  execute  his  final  plans. 

When  Charleston  was  threatened,  Washington  had  sent  about  2,000 
Continental  troops  to  the  South,  under  Major-General  Baron  de  Kalb. 
The  Maryland  and  Delaware  regiments  were  ordered  to  march  ;14  but  it 
was  found  to  be  a  matter  of  difficulty,  to  procure  munitions  for  them. 
After  marching  through  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania  they  embarked 
at  the  head  of  Elk  on  the  16th  April,  and  landed  soon  afterwards  at 
Petersburg h.  Thence  they  proceeded  through  the  country  towards 


Field-Book  of  the  Revolution,”  Vol. 
ii.,  chap.  xxix. 

9  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  x.,  chap, 
xiv.,  pp.  301  to  306. 

10  See  Lord  Mahon’s  “  History  of 
England  from  the  Peace  of  Utrecht,” 
Vol.  vi.,  chap,  lxiii.,  pp.  415  to  418. 

11  See  Thomas  D’Arcy  McGee’s 
“  History  of  the  Irish  Settlers  in  -North 
America,”  chap.  viii. 

12  On  the  17th  of  June  1780,  ninety- 
three  Philadelphia  merchants  signed 
a  paper  which  obliged  them  to  sub¬ 
scribe  a  large  amount.  See  the 
“American  Remembrancer,”  Vol.  x., 
p.  229. 

13  Among  the  shareholders  were 
twenty-three  Irish,  or  of  Irish  extrac¬ 
tion,  who  subscribed  nearly  one  half 
million  of  dollars,  in  the  following 


proportions,  viz.  : — Blair  McClene- 
chan,  a  wealthy  Irish  merchant  sub¬ 
scribed  £iu,000 ;  L.  M.  Nesbit  &  Co., 
£5,000 ;  Richard  Peters,  £5,000 ; 
Samuel  Meredith,  £5,000 ;  James 
Mease,  £5,000 ;  Thomas  Barclay, 
£5,000 ;  Hugh  Shiel,  £5,000 ;  John 
Dunlap,  £4,000;  John  Nixon, 
£5,000 ;  George  Campbell,  £2,000 ; 
John  Mease,  £4,000  ;  Bunner,  Murray 
&  Co.,  £6,000;  John  Patton,  £2,000; 
Benjamin  Fuller,  £2,000 ;  George 
Meade  &  Co.,  £2,000;  John  Donald¬ 
son,  £2,000;  Henry  Dill,  £5,000; 
Kean  &  Nichols,  £4,000;  James 
Caldwell,  £2,000 ;  Samuel  Caldwell, 
£1,000;  John  Shee,  £1,000;  Sharp 
Delanv,  £1,000 ;  Tench  Francis, 
£5,500— Total,  442,500  dollars. 

14  See  Hugh  Murray’s  “  United 
States  of  America,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap.  p. 
70. 


262  IEISH-AMEKICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

South  Carolina.  For  want  of  regular  supplies  of  food  they  suffered 
much  on  the  line  of  march,  but  bore  their  privations  with  great  fortitude. 
However,  this  force  arrived  too  late  for  the  relief  of  Charleston. 

Having  left  about  4,000  men  for  the  Southern  service,  under  the 
command  of  Lieutenant-General  Lord  Cornwallis,  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
embarked  early  in  June  with  the  main  arm}'-  for  New  York.  Lord 
Rawdon  was  sent  to  Camden,  on  the  Santee  River,  there  to  establish  his 
headquarters,  and  to  place  the  stores,  with  a  view  of  over-running  both 
the  Carolinas.15  Rather  tardily  were  the  American  reinforcements 
collected  to  operate  against  Cornwallis  in  South  Carolina;  and  General 
Gates,  whose  military  capacity  had  been  greatly  over-rated,  was  now 
appointed  to  command  it.16  As  victor  at  Saratoga,  however,  his  fame 
revived  the  spirit  of  numerous  volunteers  and  militia  in  the  South,  while 
various  parties  took  up  arms  and  flocked  to  join  his  standard.17  Hav¬ 
ing  collected  about  6,000  men,  De  Kalb’s  troops  being  included,  but 
without  taking  sufficient  pains  to  be  informed  regarding  the  strength  and 
resources  of  the  enemy,  or  even  without  taking  precautions  to  ascertain 
their  movements  in  front,  Gates  was  impatient  to  advance.  Through 
pine-barrens,  sand-hills  and  swamps,  he  reached  Clermont  on  the  13th 
of  August,  and  next  day  General  Stephens  joined  him  with  a  large  body 
of  Virginia  militia.  The  American  General  then  moved  towards  Camden 
on  the  Wateree  River,  in  the  interior  of  South  Carolina.18  To  meet  him, 
Lord  Cornwallis  marched  with  a  greatly  superior  force,  and  there  Lord 
Rawdon  had  already  concentrated  his  troops.19  Intending  to  attack 
Gates  in  his  position  the  next  day,  Lord  Cornwallis  put  his  troops  in 
motion  during  the  night.  In  like  manner  the  American  General,  after 
ordering  his  baggage  to  the  Waxhaws,  intended  to  secure  a  more  eligible 
position  nearer  Camden,  and  at  10  o’clock  p.m.,  on  the  15th,  his  army 
was  set  in  order  and  directed  to  advance. 


On  the  16th  of  August,  the  battle  of  Camden  was  fought,  Gates’ 
vanguard  being  surprised  on  his  route,  about  two  o’clock  in  the  morning. 
Then  the  action  soon  became  general.20  The  American  cavalry  of 
Colonel  Armand  were  at  once  attacked  and  driven  in  upon  the  infantry. 
With  great  want  of  judgment,  Gates  then  sent  forward  his  militia 
to  meet  the  advancing  regulars  of  the  British  army.  At  the  very 


15  See  “  The  Annual  Register  for  the 
year  1780,”  Vol.  xxiii.,  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  x.,  p.  230. 

16  See  John  Adolphus’  “  History  of 
England,”  Vol.  iii.,  chap,  xxxix.,  p. 
316. 

17  See  Michael  Doheny’s  “History 
of  the  American  Revolution,”  chap, 
xv.,  p.  203. 

18  See  Lieutenant-Colonel  Tarleton’s 
“History  of  the  Campaign  in  1780-1, 
in  the  Southern  Provinces  of  North 
America.”  London,  1787,  8vo. 

19  In  September,  1779  1,500  troops 


arrived  from  Ireland,  and  numbers 
of  these  deserted  to  the  Americans. 
This  so  enraged  Lord  Rawdon,  that 
on  July  1st  1780,  he  issued  the 
following  brutal  order :  “  I  will  give 
the  inhabitants  ten  guineas  for  the 
head  of  any  deserter  belonging  to  the 
volunteers  of  Ireland,  and  five  guineas 
only  if  they  bring  them  in  alive.” — 
George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
United  States,”  Vol.  x.,  chap,  xv., 
p.  311. 

20  See  Michael  Doheny’s  “  History 
of  the  American  Revolution,”  chap 
xv.,  pp.  204.  205. 


GENERAL  GATES  IN  THE  SOUTH, 


263 


first  onset  those  bands  fled,  and  thus  spread  a  panic  throughout  the 
American  lines.  The  brigades  of  Maryland  and  Delaware,  under  De 
Kalb,  stood  their  ground  bravely,  for  a  considerable  time.21  These 
inflicted  great  damage  on  the  British.  However,  their  infantry  charged 
the  Virginia  Militia — who  formed  the  left  wing  of  the  American  army — 
with  fixed  bayonets,  and  they  fled  from  that  field.  A  considerable  body 
of  the  North  Carolina  militia  followed  their  example.22  The  Americans 
were  defeated  with  considerable  loss;23  and  their  general  retreated  to 
North  Carolina,  without  making  any  well-directed  effort  to  check  the 
pursuing  troopers  of  Tarleton.  After  this  action,  nearly  300  wounded 
Americans  were  brought  into  Camden.  Brigadier-General  Baron  de 
Kalb  was  mortally  wounded  after  exhibiting  heroic  courage  in  the  field.24 
The  Americans  lost  the  whole  of  their  artillery,  eight  field  pieces, 
upwards  of  200  waggons,  and  the  greatest  part  of  their  baggage.25 
After  his  disgraceful  conduct  as  a  leader  became  known,  Congress 
removed  Gates  from  his  command.26 

During  the  absence  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton  in  the  South,  Major-General 
Nathaniel  Greene  held  a  position  to  carry  on  the  blockade  of  New  York, 
and  Lieutenant-General  Knyphausen  deemed  it  opportune  to  make  a 
sudden  incursion  against  the  Americans.  On  the  23rd  of  June,  an 
indecisive  battle  between  the  British  and  Continentals  was  fought  at 
Springfield,  in  New  Jersey.27  Knyphausen  commanded  the  British  and 
Greene  the  Americans.  After  a  severe  engagement,  when  the  British 
took  and  burned  Springfield28,  the  invaders  were  repulsed,  and  they 
retired  to  Staten  Island.29 

When  Clinton  got  possession  of  Charleston,  the  conditions  of  surrender 
were  violated,  in  order  to  drive  prisoners  into  the  British  ranks.  The 
people  there  were  forcibly  enrolled  as  soldiers,  and  detachments  of  troops 
were  sent  out  in  various  directions  to  overawe  South  Carolina.  All  the 
inhabitants  were  required  to  aid  in  restoring  the  royal  authority,  on 
pain  of  being  treated  as  rebels.30  Cajolery  and  intimidation  were  both 
employed,  and  their  influences  seemed  for  a  while  to  prevail,  especially  as 
large  bodies  of  men  were  sent  on  various  expeditions  throughout  the  State. 


21  See  Judge  Marshall’s  “Life  of 
George  Washington,”  Yol.  iv.,  pp. 
215  to  235. 

22  See  “  The  Annual  Register  for  the 
year  1780,”  Vol.  xxiii.,  The  History 
of  Europe,  chap,  x.,  pp.  231  to  233. 

23  Lord  Cornwallis  estimated  their 
slain  at  eight  or  nine  hundred,  and  he 
stated  that  about  1,000  prisoners  were 
taken. 

24  This  German  volunteer,  who  so  ably 
served  the  Americans,  died  of  his  wounds, 
on  the  19th  of  August,  in  the  forty- 
eighth  year  of  his  age. 

25  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Yol.  x.,  chap, 
xv.,  pp.  319  to  323. 


26  Brigadier-General  Griffith  Ruther¬ 
ford  was  an  Irishman  by  birth.  He 
commanded  a  brigade  in  the  battle  of 
Camden. 

27  See  Benson  J.  Lossing’s  “  Pic¬ 
torial  Field-Book  of  the  Revolution,” 
Yol.  i.,  chap,  xiv.,  pp.  323,  324. 

28  See  “  The  Annual  Register,”  for 
the  year  1781,  Vol.  xxiii.  The  His¬ 
tory  of  Europe,  chap.  ii. ,  pp.  17,  18. 

29  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,”  &c.,  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xii., 
p.  335. 

30  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  x.,  chap, 
xiv.,  pp.  307,  308. 


264 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Colonel  Tarleton  was  particularly  active  on  these  raids.  He  started  witli 
some  light  infantry  and  cavalry  for  the  Catawba  fords,  where  General 
Sumpter  had  encamped.  There  Tarleton  overtook  part  of  a  Virginia 
Regiment,  and  although  they  offered  no  resistance  and  sued  for  quarter, 
he  massacred  over  one  hundred  in  cold  blood.  The  rout  was  complete, 
two  pieces  of  cannon  and  about  300  men  were  captured  while  a 
number  of  British  waggons  and  prisoners  were  re-taken.31  Elated  with 
their  victories,  and  now  confident  in  their  strength,  the  conquerors 
grew  more  insolent  and  rapacious.  Lord  Cornwallis  having  been  left 
as  commander  in  South  Carolina,  his  intention  was  to  carry  the  British 
arms  northwards,  when  he  had  established  quiet  there,  and  when  the 
season  was  more  favourable  for  his  movements.32 

An  active  partisan  warfare  in  the  interior  was  kept  up  by  Colonel 
Sumpter,33  who  had  gathered  around  him  a  number  of  resolute  exiles 
from  that  State.34  In  many  instances,  his  irregular  bands  were 
succcessful.  On  the  12th  July,  he  attacked  a  detachment  of  the  royal 
forces  and  militia,  posted  in  a  lane  at  Williamson’s  plantation,  and 
completely  routed  them.  In  a  few  days,  his  troops  amounted  to  600 
men,35  afterwards  raised  to  about  1,000.  They  also  encountered 
reverses.  The  commander  of  a  corps,  named  Clarke,  rendered  excellent 
services  in  keeping  up  this  contest,  especially  in  the  western  parts  of 
South  Carolina.  At  Rocky  Mount,  on  the  30th  of  July,  the  Americans 
under  Sumpter  were  attacked  by  the  British  and  defeated  with  a  loss 
of  13  men.36  On  the  6th  of  August,  at  Hanging  Rock,37  with  a  loss  of 
53  men,  Sumpter  obtained  a  victory  over  the  British. 

But  that  corps,  known  as  “  Marion’s  Men,”  were  of  all  others  the  most 
enterprising  in  the  South.  However,  his  bands  rarely  mustered  more  than 
from  50  to  200  resolute  militia.38  By  the  secrecy  of  his  movements,  and 
by  the  rapidity  of  his  actions,  Marion  constantly  beat  up  the  British 
quarters,  and  successfully  evaded  their  attempts  to  cope  with  him.39 


31  See  “  The  Annual  Register  for  the 
year  1780,”  Vol.  xxiii.,  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  x.,  p.  234. 

32  At  this  time  the  King  of  Eng¬ 
land  wrote  “  The  intelligence  from 
America  is  far  from  unpleasant.” — The 
Correspondence  of  King  George  the 
Third  with  Lord  North  from  1768  to 
1783,  Vol.  ii.,  Letter  601,  p.  284. 

33  He  had  bravely  commanded  a 
continental  regiment,  and  to  punish 
his  desertion  from  home,  a  British 
detachment  had  turned  his  wife  out 
of  doors.  Then  they  burned  downs 
his  house  and  everything  it  contained. 
See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of 
the  United  States,”  Vol.  x.,  chap, 
xv.,  p.  312. 

34  See  “  The  Annual  Register,”  for 
the  year  1781,  Vol.  xxiii.  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  ii.,  pp.  19,  20. 


35  After  joining  the  royal  banner,  a 
number  of  the  South  Carolina  militia 
went  over  to  him,  and  one  Colonel 
Lisle  carried  a  whole  battalion  .  to 
swell  Sumpter’s  forces.  See  Hugh 
Murray’s  “  United  States  of  America,” 
Vol.  ii.,  chap,  ii.,  p.  71. 

36  The  English  lost  20  men  in  this 
encounter. 

37  Colonel  John  McClure,  who  com¬ 
manded  the  company  known  as  the 
Rocky  Creek  Irish,  fell  at  the  first 
fire  from  the  Royalists ;  while  at  the 
same  time,  four  of  his  cousins  lay 
bleeding  near  him.  All  these  were  of 
Irish  extraction. 

38  See  Hugh  Murray’s  “  United 
States  of  America,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap, 
ii.,  p.  74. 

39  Among  his  followers,  the  names 
of  Colonels  Horry  and  McDonad,  &B 


BRUTALITY  OF  LORD  CORNWALLIS. 


265 


Foremost  among  these  leaders  in  South  Carolina  was  Andrew 
Pickens,40  who  became  a  warm  republican  when  the  Revolution 
broke  out,  and  he  was  one  of  the  most  active  among  the  military  parti¬ 
sans  of  the  South.  In  a  proclamation  issued  by  Lord  Cornwallis,  even 
more  brutally  than  Clinton,  he  gave  orders  that  all  the  inhabitants, 
who  had  subscribed  and  taken  part  in  the  revolt,  should  be  punished 
with  the  greatest  rigour  ;  and  also,  that  those  who  would  not  turn  out 
must  be  imprisoned,  and  their  whole  property  taken  from  them  and 
destroyed.  He  also  ordered,  that  satisfaction  should  be  made  for  their 
estates  to  those  who  had  been  injured  or  oppressed  by  the  Americans.41 
He  also  ordered  in  the  most  positive  manner,  that  every  man  who  had 
borne  arms  with  the  English  and  afterwards  joined  the  enemy  should 
be  immediately  hanged.42  In  accordance  with  that  proclamation, 
numbers  of  the  patriots  were  hanged  and  imprisoned ;  while  their 
persons,  without  respect  to  age  or  sex,  were  outraged,  and  their  pro¬ 
perty  was  confiscated  or  destroyed.  The  Cherokee  Indians  were 
stimulated,  likewise,  to  join  the  royalists,  and  soon  their  savage  excesses 
were  characterised  by  the  burning1  of  houses  and  by  the  massacre  of  their 
inhabitants.43 


also  of  Captain  Conyers  and  McCauly, 
are  conspicuous.  See  Thomas  D’Arcy 
McGee’s  “  History  of  the  Irish  Set¬ 
tlers  in  North  America,”  chap.  iv.  p.  42. 

40  He  was  born  in  Paxton  township, 
Pennsylvania,  on  the  19th  of  Septem¬ 
ber  1739.  His  parents  were  from 
Ireland.  In  1752  he  removed  with 
his  father  to  the  Waxham  settlement 
in  South  Carolina.  He  served  as  a 
volunteer  in  Grant’s  expedition  against 
the  Cherokees,  in  which  he  took  his 
first  lessons  in  the  art  of  war.  From 
the  close  of  the  Revolution  until  1794,  he 
was  a  member  of  the  South  Carolina 
legislature,  when  he  was  elected  to  a 
seat  in  Congress.  He  was  commis¬ 
sioned  as  major-general  of  the  South 
Carolina  militia  in  1795,  and  was 
often  a  commissioner  to  treat  with 
the  Indians.  President  Washington 
offered  him  a  brigade  of  light  troops 
under  General  Wayne,  to  serve  against 
the  Indians  in  the  Northwest,  but  he 
declined  the  honour.  He  died  at  his 
seat  in  Pendleton  district,  South 
Carolina,  the  scene  of  his  earliest 
battles,  on  the  17th  of  August  1817, 
at  the  age  of  78  years.  In  1765  he 
married  Rebecca  Calhoun,  aunt  of  the 
celebrated  John  C.  Calhoun,  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  young  ladies  of  the 
South.  See  Benson  J.  Lossing’s 
“  Tutorial  Field-Book  of  the  Revolu¬ 
tion.” 


41  This  proclamation  was  dated, 
September  16th  1780.  See  “  The 
Annual  Register”  for  the  year  1781, 
Vol.  xxiii.  History  of  Europe,  chap, 
iv.,  p.  51. 

42  Letter  of  Lord  Cornwallis  to 
Colonel  Balfour,  commander  at  Fort 
Ninety-six,  in  August  1780.  This  letter 
is  carefully  excluded  from  “  Corres- 

gondence  of  Charles,  First  Marquis  of 
ornwallis,”  as  edited  by  Charles 
Ross,  Esq. 

43  Upon  one  occasion,  with  thirteen 
other  whites,  Patrick  Calhoun,  a 
native  of  Donegal,  Ireland,  and  father 
of  the  celebrated  John  C.  Calhoun, 
maintained  a  desperate  conflict  for 
hours  with  the  Cherokee  Indians,  until 
overwhelmed  by  numbers,  he  was 
forced  to  retreat,  leaving  seven  of  his 
companions  dead  on  the  field.  Three 
days  after,  they  returned  to  bury 
their  dead,  and  found  the  bodies  of 
twenty-three  Indian  warriors,  who 
had  fallen  in  that  same  conflict.  At 
another  time,  he  was  singled  out  by 
an  Indian,  distinguished  for  his  prow¬ 
ess  as  a  chief,  and  for  his  skill  with 
the  rifle.  The  Indian  taking  to  a 
tree,  Patrick  secured  himself  behind  a 
log,  whence  he  drew  the  Indian’s  fire 
four  times  by  holding  his  hat  on  a 
stick  a  little"  above  his  hiding  place. 
The  Indian  at  length  exhibited  a  por¬ 
tion  of  his  person  in  an  effort  to 


266  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OB  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


After  his  victory  at  Camden,  Lord  Cornwallis  marched  his  army  into 
North  Carolina.44  He  hoped  to  overrun  that  whole  district,  and  after¬ 
wards  to  invade  Virginia.  Bands  of  Tories  were  now  organised  by  Major 
Patrick  Ferguson  a  Scotchman,  and  by  other  leaders,  to  aid  the  British. 
These  soon  committed  great  ravages  and  outrages.  In  Virginia,  Colonel 
Campbell  had  organised  a  body  of  militia  and  backwoodsmen.  With  these 
he  marched  onwards  to  the  frontiers  of  South  Carolina.  On  the  7th  of 
October,  he  there  surprised  Colonel  Patrick  Ferguson,  and  a  battle  was 
fought  at  King’s  Mountain.  He  attempted  to  defend  that  post  by 
successive  charges  with  the  bayonet.  However,  after  a  sharp  conflict, 
Ferguson  was  killed  in  that  engagement.45  The  Americans  proved  vic¬ 
torious,  with  a  loss  of  only  twenty  men.  The  British  lost  about  1,000, 
who  surrendered  as  prisoners  of  war.46 

About  this  period,  a  name,  that  had  hitherto  stood  high  on  the  roll  of 
fame  and  of  honourable  military  achievements,  was  destined  to  bring 
infamy  and  everlasting  disgrace  on  its  bearer.  For  some  time,  Benedict 
Arnold  had  been  intriguing  with  the  British,47  while  the  American  army 
was  camped  north  of  New  York  City.48  An  Adjutant-General  in  the 
British  army,  Major  John  Andre,  undertook  a  dangerous  service  for  his 
leader.  On  the  28th  of  September,  while  attempting  to  pass  through 


ascertain  the  effect  of  his  shot,  when 
he  received  a  ball  from  his  enemy  in 
the  shoulder,  which  forced  him  to  fly. 
But  the  hat  exhibited  the  traces  of 
four  balls,  by  which  it  had  been  per¬ 
forated.  The  family  of  Calhoun 
emigrated  at  first  to  Pennsylvania, 
where  they  remained  some  years,  and 
then  to  the  western  part  of  Virginia, 
whence  they  were  driven  by  the  In¬ 
dians  after  Braddock’s  defeat.  They 
removed,  finally,  to  South  Carolina 
in  1756,  when  Patrick  settled  in 
Abbyville  district,  where  his  distin- 
uished  son  was  born.  Patrick  Cal- 
oun  married  an  Irish- American  girl, 
a  daughter  of  Major  John  Caldwell  of 
Charlotte  county,  Virginia.  Major 
Caldwell  was  afterwards  murdered  by 
the  Tories,  in  cold  blood,  and  in  his 
own  yard,  after  destroying  his  house 
by  fire.  The  families  of  Calhoun 
and  Caldwell  were  stout  Whigs,  and 
were  not  only  exposed  to  hostile  In¬ 
dian  incursions,  but  also  to  Tory 
outrages.  They  maintained  their 
foothold  on  the  soil  despite  the  con¬ 
flicts  of  an  almost  constant  border 
warfare,  and  adhered  to  their  country, 
amid  the  horrors  of  civil  strife  and 
in  the  face  of  foreign  invaders.  Of 
three  paternal  uncles  of  John  C.  Cal¬ 
houn,  able  to  bear  arms,  one  perished 


by  the  hands  of  the  Tories,  another 
fell  at  the  battle  of  the  Cowpens  with 
thirty  sabre  wounds,  and  a  third, 
taken  prisoner  by  the  English,  was 
immured  for  nine  months  in  the  dun¬ 
geons  of  St.  Augustine.  Nor  was 
Patrich  Calhoun  indebted  to  anything 
less  than  a  strong  arm  and  a  stout 
heart  for  his  escape  from  the  perils 
that  surrounded  him.  He  served  in 
the  Legislature  of  South  Carolina  for 
thirty  years.  See  “  Life  of  John  C. 
Calhoun.” 

44  See  John  Adolphus'  “  History  of 
England,”  Vol.  iii. ,  chap,  xxxix.,  p. 
319. 

45  See  A.  Ferguson’s  “  Memoir  of 
Colonel  P.  Ferguson,  killed  in  the 
American  War  of  1780  in  South  Caro¬ 
lina.”  1817.  8vo. 

46  See  Michael  Doheny’s  “History 
of  the  American  Revolution,”  chap, 
xv.,  pp.  206-7. 

47  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  and 
Treason  of  Arnold,”  Library  of 
American  Biography,  Vol.  iii. 

48  The  scenes  of  Arnold’s  treacher¬ 
ous  betrayal  of  his  trust  are  repre¬ 
sented  in  a  Map  of  Operations  on 
Hudson’s  River,  in  “The  Writings  of 
George  Washington,”  Vol.  vii.,  p. 
216.  Edition  by  Jared  Sparks. 


MUTINY  IN  THE  AMERICAN  ARMY. 


267 


the  American  lines,  Major  Andre  was  arrested  by  three  militia  men.49 
The  prisoner  was  tried  by  a  court-martial,  before  which  he  made  an 
ingenious  defence,  but  sentence  of  death  was  passed  upon  him.  His 
pardon  would  have  been  readily  accorded,  by  Washington,  had  Arnold 
been  delivered  in  exchange  for  him ;  but,  this  proposition  was  not 
accepted  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton.  Accordingly,  on  the  2nd  of  October, 
Major  Andre  was  hanged  as  a  spy  at  Tappan,  on  the  Hudson  River.50 

At  Fish  Dam  Ford,  on  the  18th  of  November,  the  American  leader 
Sumpter  had  an  engagement  with  the  British  under  Major  Wemyss. 
The  Continentals  were  victorious.  Then  Tarleton  with  a  considerable 
force  went  in  pursuit  of  Sumpter,  who  retreated  to  a  strong  position  on 
the  bank  of  the  River  Tyger.  The  British  leader  pushed  forward 
with  250  cavalry  and  mounted  infantry.  At  Blackstock,  on  the  20th 
of  November,  the  American  general  Sumpter  was  attacked  by,  and  he 
bravely  encountered,  the  British  general  Tarleton,  when  an  obstinate 
engagement  took  place.  The  British  were  defeated  and  lost  nearly 
200  men  in  that  action.  The  American  loss  was  only  8  men.51 
Tarleton  was  then  obliged  to  fall  back  on  his  infantry,52  but  Sumpter 
was  too  weak  in  force  to  follow  up  his  victory.53  During  the  year  1780, 
however,  disaster  and  defeat  seemed  generally  most  fatal  to  the 
enterprise  and  cause  of  the  Southern  Continentals. 

Towards  the  close  of  that  year,  the  long-suffering  Pennsylvanian 
line  unpaid,  only  half  fed  and  ill  clothed,  began  to  murmur,  and  at 
length  they  became  mutinous.54  On  New  Year’s  Day  1781,  no  less 
than  thirteen  hundred  marched  out  of  camp  with  arms  in  their  hands, 
and  they  started  for  Philadelphia,  to  obtain  relief  from  Congress. 
An  effort  was  made  to  stop  them  by  General  Wayne,  who  was  their  idol 
in  action  ;  but  they  threatened  to  run  him  through  with  their  bayonets, 
while  an  emeute  ensued,  in  which  a  captain  was  killed,  and  several 
officers  were  wounded.  At  Princeton,  the  agents  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
urged  the  mutineers  that  they  should  desert  to  the  British,  who 
would  afford  them  not  only  relief,  but  bounties  in  their  necessities. 
These  offers  were  indignantly  rejected,  and  the  agents  arrested  as 
spies  were  nanded  over  to  General  Wayne.  A  Committee  of  Congress 
was  appointed  to  treat  with  the  troops.  It  was  agreed  then,  to  accept 
their  understanding  for  the  terms  of  enlistment,  to  provide  them  with 
clothing,  and  to  make  arrangements  for  their  pay.  Nearly  all  the 
Pennsylvanians  obtained  their  discharge,  and  this  greatly  weakened 
the  force  at  Washington’s  disposal.  Those  concessions  produced  a 
very  demoralising  effect  upon  the  other  soldiers,  and  a  few  days 


49  These  were  named  John  Paulding, 
David  Williams  and  Isaac  Van  Wart. 

50  See  “  The  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1781,  Yol.  xxiii  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  iii.,  no.  37  to  49. 

51  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Yol  x.,  chap, 
xiv.,  pp.  343  ,  344. 


52  See  ibid.,  chap,  iv.,  pp.  53,  54. 

53  See  Lieutenant-Colonel  Tarleton's 
“  History  of  the  Campaigns  of  1780-1, 
in  the  Southern  Provinces  of  North 
America,”  p.  178. 

54  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xiii.,  pp. 
546,  547. 


268 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


afterwards,  the  New  Jersey  regiments  began  to  revolt.55  This, 
however,  was  put  down  by  force,  when  two  of  the  ringleaders  were  tried 
by  court-martial  and  shot.  Congress  was  startled  at  these  untoward 
movements.  Great  exertions  were  made,  as  a  consequence,  to  raise 
money  and  supplies,  so  that  the  condition  of  their  army  might  be 
improved. 


CHAPTER  XYIIT. 


The  Action  of  Lafayette  in  France — Arnold’s  Invasion  of  Virginia — Operations  of 
General  Green  and  of  Lord  Cornwallis  in  the  South — Battle  of  the  Cowpens — 
Subsequent  Manoeuvres — Battle  of  Guildford  Court-House — Various  En¬ 
counters — Battle  of  Eutaw  Springs — Lord  Cornwallis  marches  to  Virginia — 
French  and  American  Combinations — Investment  of  Yorktown — Siege — 
Surrender  of  Lord  Cornwallis  and  of  his  whole  Army — Reception  of  the  News 
in  England  and  Ireland. 

The  tide  of  events  now  began  to  turn  in  favour  of  the  Continentals. 
Having  spent  the  winter  in  France,  where  he  was  received  with  great 
honour  and  congratulations  by  his  countrymen  and  by  the  court,1 
Lafayette  had  been  employed  there  in  earnestly  urging  the  cause  of 
America.  Meantime,  Admiral  D’Estaing  had  sailed  for  France.  But, 
it  was  arranged  that  another  fleet  should  proceed  to  America,  under 
the  direction  of  Admiral  de  Ternay,  wdiile  an  army  commanded  by  the 
Comte  Rochambeau  should  also  embark.2  Lafayette  returned  in  the 
spring  with  this  welcome  intelligence  to  Congress  and  to  Washing¬ 
ton,  whose  army  he  again  joined.  When  Benedict  Arnold  deserted  his 
former  companions-in-arms  he  was  commissioned  as  Brigadier-General 
in  the  British  service.  His  daring  and  enterprising  character  having 
been  already  well  proved,  soon  he  was  selected  as  one  best  qualified  to 
be  leader  in  an  expedition,  which  it  was  hoped  should  create  a  diver¬ 
sion  unfavourable  to  the  cause  of  the  Continentals.3  Accordingly,  in 
January  1781,  he  was  directed  to  conduct  1,600  British  troops  from 
New  York  to  invade  Virginia.  When  he  arrived  there  he  occupied 
Portsmouth.  At  this  time,  Thomas  Jefferson  happened  to  be  Governor 
of  the  State,  and  he  called  out  the  militia  to  oppose  the  invader.4 
Arnold  also  ravaged  along  the  James  River,  and  burned  a  part  of 


55  See  ibid.,  p.  348. 

1  One  of  his  projects  while  in 
France  was  to  urge  on  the  govern¬ 
ment  the  invasion  of  Ireland,  with  a 
view  to  establish  its  independence  of 
England,  and  thus  also  to  create  a 
diversion  in  favour  of  the  United 
States.  See  Bayard  Tuckerman’s 
“Life  of  General*  Lafayette,”  &c,, 
Vol.  i.,  chap,  v.,  p.  110. 


2  See  John  Miller’s  “History  of  the 

United  States  from  their  first  Settle¬ 
ment,”  &c.  1826,  8vo. 

3  See  “  The  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1781,  Vol.  xxiv.  “The  His¬ 
tory  of  Europe,”  chap,  v.,  p.  73. 

4  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,”  Vol,  i.  chap,  xiii,,  pp, 
351,  352. 


ARNOLDS  INVASION  OF  VIRGINIA 


2G‘J 


Richmond.5  He  fell  back  to  Portsmouth,  however,  when  the  tnilitia 
began  to  collect  in  force. 

The  direction  of  American  movements  in  the  South,  ably  conducted 
by  Major-General  Greene,  was  difficult  to  manage,  in  the  face  of  greatly 
superior  forces  on  the  enemy’s  side.6  Henry  Lee  had  been  detached 
to  serve  under  him.  General  Morgan  also  held  himself  ready  to 
co-operate  in  this  campaign.  Early  in  January,  the  camp  of  Lord 
Cornwallis  was  pitched  in  a  position  between  Broad  and  Catawba 
Rivers.  He  had  desired  to  invade  North  Carolina.7  With  the  main 
body  of  his  forces  moving  forward,  he  hoped  to  separate  Morgan  from 
Green.  However,  on  penetrating  the  design  of  Cornwallis,  Morgan 
hastily  retreated  towai’ds  North  Carolina.  He  then  held  a  post  at  the 
head  of  Broad  River,  and  known  as  Cowpens,  from  which  Cornwallis 
hoped  to  dislodge  him.8  Meantime,  Washington  sent  Lafayette  with 
some  troops  to  capture  the  traitor  Arnold  if  possible,  and  to  make  an 
example  of  him  for  his  perfidy  and  cruelty.  On  their  arrival,  De 
Ternay’s  ships  were  despatched  to  assail  Portsmouth  by  sea.  The 
British  squadron  sailed  in  pursuit.  At  the  entrance  to  Chesapeake  Bay, 
the  French  vessels  were  attacked  on  the  18th  of  March.  This  action 
proved  favourable  to  the  British,  and  the  French  vessels  were  obliged  to 
sail  for  Newport.  Meanwhile,  heavy  reinforcements  were  sent  to 
Arnold  from  New  York.  At  Annapolis  in  Maryland,  the  march  of 
Lafayette  was  arrested  by  a  greatly  superior  force. 

The  Americans  only  numbered  800  men,  under  the  command  of 
General  Morgan  They  took  up  a  position,  at  a  place  called  the  Cow- 
pens,  not  far  from  King’s  Mountain.  Thither  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Tarleton  marched,  having  two  fieldpieces,  with  his  legion  amounting  to 
1,000  choice  foot  soldiers,  and  350  horse.  He  opened  the  attack  upon 
the  militia  force  on  the  17th  of  January.  This  body  at  first  gave  way, 
after  delivering  a  destructive  fire  against  the  assailants  of  their  position.9 
Meantime,  Morgan  had  posted  his  veteran  soldiers,  in  thick  woods,  on 
either  flank  of  the  militia.  When  the  British  advanced  in  some  disorder 
to  follow  up  what  they  deemed  an  assured  victory,  the  Continental  troops 
poured  a  deadly  fire  upon  them,  while  Morgan’s  horse  also  charged  the 
royalist  cavalry.10  Colonel  Howard  followed  up  this  advantage  with 
the  bayonet,  and  so  unexpected  was  the  movement,  that  the  British 
became  completely  demoralised. 11  In  this  brilliant  action,  the 


5  See  David  Ramsay’s  “  History  of 
the  American  Revolution,”  Vol.  ii., 
chap,  xxii.,  pp.  226  to  228. 

6  In  the  re-organization  of  his  army, 
Baron  Steuben  was  of  great  assist¬ 
ance. 

7  See  “  The  Annual  Register  ’  for 
the  year  1781,  Vol.  xxiv.  The  Hixi. 
tory  of  Europe,  chap,  iv.,  p.  55. 

8  See  Rev.  George  R.  Cleig’s  “  Liv^s 
of  the  most  Eminent  British  Military 
Commanders,”  Vol.  iii.,  pp  143  to  146. 


9  See  Tarleton’s  “  History  of  the 
Campaigns  of  1780  and  1781,  in  the 
Southern  Provinces.” 

10  See  “The  Annual  Register”  for 
the  year  1781,  Vol.  xxiv.  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  iv.,  pp.  55.  Also,  C. 
Stedman’s  “  History  of  the  Origin, 
Progress  and  Termination  of  the 
American  War,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  xli., 
pp.  356  to  361. 

' 1  In  this  engagement,  the  brave 
young  Lieutenant- Colonel  William 


270 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Americans  proved  victorious,  with  the  loss  of  only  twelve  men  killed 
and  eighty  wounded ;  that  of  the  British  was  ten  officers  and  ninety 
privates  killed,  while  twenty-three  officers  and  five  hundred  privates 
were  taken  prisoners.12  Almost  all  the  British  infantry,  except  the 
baggage  guard,  were  killed  or  taken.  Their  two  pieces  of  artillery, 
eight  hundred  muskets,  two  standards,  thirty-five  baggage  waggons,  and 
one  hundred  dragoon  horses,  fell  into  the  possession  of  the  Americans. 
To  the  honour  of  the  victors,  it  is  declared  that  notwithstanding  the 
cruel  warfare  which  Tarleton  had  waged,  not  one  of  the  British  was 
killed  or  wounded,  or  even  insulted,  after  they  had  surrendered. 
During  that  night  and  following  morning,  the  remnant  of  Tarleton’s 
force  reached  Hamilton’s  Ford,  on  Broad  River,  and  also  the  encamp¬ 
ment  of  Cornwallis,  at  Turkey  Creek,  about  twenty-five  miles  from  the 
Cowpens.  For  this  defeat,  Tarleton’s  contemporaries  censured  him 
severely,  and  in  commemoration  of  that  battle,  Congress  caused  a  medal 
to  be  struck.13 

After  his  great  victory,  Morgan  marched  eastwards  to  meet  Major- 
General  Green.14  Meantime,  having  received  large  reinforcements  from 
New  York,  and  collecting  the  remnants  of  Tarleton’s  division,  Corn¬ 
wallis  burned  his  stores  and  superfluous  baggage,  so  that  his  soldiers 


Washington,  a  distant  kinsman  of 
General  George  Washington,  so  dis¬ 
tinguished  himself  by  his  gallantry  as 
to  win  a  gold  medal  from  Congress. 
He  commanded  a  cavalry  force,  and 
by  a  daring  assault,  he  drove  the 
British  horse  to  rout.  He  and  Gene¬ 
ral  Tarleton  had  a  personal  conflict 
on  the  field.  In  the  eagerness  of  his 
ursuit  of  that  officer,  Washington 
ad  got  far  in  advance  of  his  squad¬ 
ron,  when  Tarleton  and  his  two  aids, 
at  the  head  of  a  troop  of  the  17th 
regiment  of  dragoons,  turned  upon 
him.  An  officer  on  Tarleton’s  right 
was  about  to  strike  the  impetuous 
Washington  with  his  sabre,  when  his 
sergeant  came  up  and  disabled  the 
assailant’s  sword-arm.  An  officer  on 
Tarleton’s  left  was  about  to  strike  at 
the  same  moment,  when  Washington’s 
little  bugler,  too  small  to  wield  a 
sword,  wounded  the  assailant  with  a 
pistol  ball.  Tarleton,  who  was  in 
the  centre,  then  made  a  trust  at  him, 
which  Washington  '  parried,  and  gave 
his  enemy  a  wound  in  the  hand.  Tar¬ 
leton  wheeled,  and  as  he  retreated, 
discharged  a  pistol,  by  which  Wash¬ 
ington  was  wounded  in  the  knee. 

12  Lord  Cornwallis’s  letter  to  Sir 
Henry  Clinton,  and  dated  Camp  on 
Turkey  Creek,  Broad  Biver,  Jan. 


18th  1781,  rather  underestimates  this 
loss.  However,  it  is  acknowledged 
by  Charles  Ross,  that  he  had  furnish¬ 
ed  Tarleton  with  700  infantry  and 
350  cavalry,  the  best  troops  of  the 
army,  while  Morgan  had  hardly  an 
equal  force,  of  which  only  540  were 
Continentals.  See  “  Correspondence 
of  Charles,  First  Marquis  of  Corn¬ 
wallis,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  iv.,  pp.  82, 
83. 

13  Among  the  American  soldiers, 
serving  in  a  private  capacity,  was 
especially  distinguished  a  Peter  Fran¬ 
cisco,  born  in  1761.  He  came  from 
Ireland  to  America,  when  he  was  only 
a  boy.  He  was  one  of  the  strongest 
and  most  daring  men  in  the  American 
ranks,  while  he  served  in  both  the 
Northern  and  Southern  armies.  He 
took  part  in  almost  all  the  great  bat¬ 
tles  of  the  war.  As  a  remarkable 
instance  of  courage  and  dexterity, 
upon  one  occasion  when  taken  prisoner 
in  Virginia  in  1781,  he  fought  and 
foiled  nine  of  Tarleton’s  dragoons, 
coming  safely  off  in  the  conflict.  He 
died  at  Richmond,  Va.,  in  1832.  See 
Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of  American 
Biography,”  Vol.  ii.,  p  525. 

14  See  Henry  Cabot  Lodge’s  “George 
Washington,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  x.,  p. 
293. 


mzm 


OPERATIONS  of  general  green  AND  OF  LORD  CORNWALLIS.  271 


might  move  the  faster  to  overwhelm  Morgan’s  insignificant  bands.15 
The  American  leader  was  now  obliged  to  retreat  across  the  Catawba 
River.  In  consequence  of  heavy  rain,  it  became  suddenly  swollen,  by 
the  time  the  British  arrived  at  its  banks.  Notwithstanding  the  critical 
position  in  which  he  had  been  placed,  Green  hastened  a  rapid  march, 
and  in  the  same  direction,  to  save  his  little  army.  Crossing  the  Yadkin 
— also  greatly  swollen  with  the  recent  rains — the  Americans  secured  all 
the  boats  on  their  side,  and  thus  again  they  foiled  Cornwallis’  advance.10 
The  latter  now  turned  northwards,  intending  to  cut  off  their  retreat 
upon  Virginia.  This  movement  delayed  the  crossing,  and  it  enabled 
Morgan  to  reach  the  Yadkin  River,  where  Green  was  stationed.  The 
two  divisions  of  Green  numbered  but  little  over  2,000  men ;  while  the 
English  had  a  greatly  superior  force,  and  much  better  appointed. 
Having  occupied  Wilmington  and  Newbern,  Cornwallis  soon  overran 
all  North  Carolina.  There  he  made  every  effort  to  rouse  and  organise 
the  Tories.  Nevertheless,  M  ajor-General  Green  returned  from  Virginia, 
and  by  sending  out  skirmishing  parties  on  horseback  in  various  direc¬ 
tions,  he  kept  the  British  and  the  Tories  in  a  state  of  apprehension  and 
alertness,  which  prevented  success  to  many  of  their  concerted  plans. 

Having  collected  a  body  of  six  weeks’  volunteers  from  Viginia  and 
Carolina,  Green  determined  to  assault  the  British  forces  at  Gilford 
Court-House  near  the  present  town  of  Greensborough,  North  Carolina.17 
There,  on  the  15th  of  March,  his  army  was  drawn  up  in  three  lines. 
The  North  Carolina  militia  were  placed  in  front ;  the  Virginia  militia 
were  next ;  but,  as  many  of  these  were  known  to  be  Tories  and  serving 
under  compulsion,  it  was  announced  to  them,  before  the  action  began, 
that  a  row  of  sentinels  stood  behind  with  orders  to  shoot  the  first  who 
ran.  The  Continentals  he  placed  in  the  rear,  and  on  these  was  his  chief 
reliance.  The  British  then  advanced  to  the  charge.  Almost  imme¬ 
diately  afterwards,  the  first  line  of  militia  threw  down  their  arms  and 
fled  in  confusion.  For  some  time,  the  Virginian  militia  stood,  but  in 
like  manner,  they  gave  way  before  the  British  bayonets.  The  Contin¬ 
entals,  however,  received  their  assailants  with  true  courage,  and  checked 
the  British,  who  fell  in  great  numbers  before  their  steady  fire.18  At 
length,  finding  his  regiments  hard  pressed,  Cornwallis  ordered  his 
artillery  to  be  discharged.  This  order  was  obeyed  by  an  indiscriminate 
fire,  which  cut  down  as  many  of  his  own  men  as  it  did  those  of  the 
enemy.  In  this  battle,  the  British  loss  was  600  men,  while  the  Ameri¬ 
cans  lost  only  400.  However,  Green  was  obliged  to  retreat,  as  numbers 


15  See  C.  Stedman’s  “History  of 
the  Origin,  Progress,  and  Termina¬ 
tion  of  the  American  War,”  Vol.  ii., 
chap,  xli.,  pp.  361  to  367. 

16  See  “The  Annual  Register”  for 
the  year  1781,  Vol.  xxiv.  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  iv.,  pp.  58  to  62. 

17  See  C.  Stedman’s  graphic  descrip¬ 


tion  of  this  battle,  in  “  History  of 
the  Origin,  Progress  and  Termination 
of  the  American  War,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap, 
xli.,  pp.  374  to  386. 

18  A  very  excellent  and  detailed 
account  of  this  battle  may  be  found 
in  “  The  Annual  Register  ”  for  the 
year  1781,  Vol.  xxiv.  History  of 
Europe,  chap,  iv.,  pp.  65  to  70. 


272 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

of  his  men  had  scattered  and  deserted.  On  the  whole,  the  advantage 
was  on  his  side ;  for  the  British  had  suffered  so  severely  in  that  action, 
i  that  they  were  unable  to  engage  in  pursuit.19  Whereupon,  Cornwallis 
was  obliged  to  fall  back  towards  Wilmington.20 

From  Camden  westwards  to  Fort  Ninety-six,  and  thence  to  Augusta 
and  Charleston,  the  British  had  established  a  chain  of  forts.  Green 
formed  the  bold  design  of  marching  into  South  Carolina  to  attack  their 
defenders.  On  the  23rd  of  April,  Marion  and  Lee  attacked  Fort 
Watson  on  the  Santee  River,  and  captured  it.  On  the  25th,  Green 
attacked  Lord  Rawdon,  and  a  severe  engagement  ensued,  but  it  was  not 
decisive.  Soon,  however,  Rawdon  was  obliged  to  evacuate  Camden,  and 
retreat  to  Charlestown.  Marion  and  Lee  captured  Fort  Motte  on  the 
Santee  River.  Sumpter  seized  Orangeburg.  Lee  took  possession  of 
Granby.  Being  joined  by  Pickens,  one  of  the  most  active  military 
partizans  of  the  south,  Augusta  in  Georgia  was  assaulted,  and  on  the 
5th  of  June,  it  capitulated  to  the  Americans.  Fort  Ninety-six  was 
strongly  garrisoned  by  the  British,  yet  General  Green  made  dispositions 
for  an  attack.  Although  not  successful  in  the  attempt,  that  post  soon 
afterwards  was  abandoned.  Three  regiments21  which  sailed  from  Cork,  in 
the  beginning  of  June,  landed  at  Charleston  to  reinforce  Lord  Rawdon, 
while  General  Green  had  been  engaged  investing  the  important  fort 
called  Ninety-six.22  An  encounter  took  place  at  Spencer’s  ordinary,  on 
the  25th  of  June,  the  Americans  being  under  the  command  of  Pierce 
Butler.23  Colonel  Simcoe  was  leader  of  the  British.  Towards  the 
beginning  of  July,  the  heat  became  intense,  and  it  was  found  necessary 
to  suspend  operations  for  a  time.  Besides,  General  Green  desired  to 
strengthen  and  supply  his  army  during  the  interval. 

On  the  10th  of  July  1781,  Thomas  M'Kean  was  chosen  President  of 
Congress,  Mr.  Huntington  having  previously  resigned.24  Meantime 
owing  to  illness,  Lord  Rawdon  had  sailed  for  England  ;  but  the  vessel  in 
which  he  embarked  was  captured  by  a  French  frigate,  when  he  was 
brought  a  prisoner  to  Brest.26  Having  crossed  the  Santee  River  in  August 

19  See  David  Ramsay’s  “  History  of 
the  American  Revolution,”  Yol.  ii., 
chap,  xxiii.,  pp.  241  to  243. 

20  See  Rev.  George  R.  Gleig’s 
“  Lives  of  the  most  eminent  British 
Military  Commanders,”  Vol.  iii.,  pp. 

149  to  153. 

21  With  these,  in  the  19th  regiment, 
served  Lord  Edward  Fitzgerald  as  a 
young  officer.  He  conducted  himself 
with  great  gallantry  in  several  minor 
engagements,  to  the  close  of  that  war, 
when  Lord  Cornwallis  surrendered 
at  Yorktown.  See  Thomas  Moore’s 
“  Life  and  death  of  Lord  Edward 
Fitzgerald,”  Vol.  i.,  pp.  17  to  28. 

London,  1831,  8vo. 

22  See  C.  Stedman’s  “  History  ot 


the  Origin,  Progress,  and  Termina¬ 
tion  of  the  American  War,”  Yol.  ii., 
chap,  xliii.,  pp.  405  to  415. 

23  He  was  the  fourth  of  the  Irish 
and  Irish- American  brothers  Butler, 
that  fought  through  the  Revolution¬ 
ary  War,  and  he  was  bom  in  Pennsyl¬ 
vania,  in  1760 ;  while  a  fifth  and  the 
youngest  of  the  brothers,  named 
Edward,  embraced  a  military  career, 
and  served  after  the  Revolution 
under  General  Wayne  in  1796.  See 
Appleton’s  “Cyclopaedia  of  American 
Biography,”  Yol.  i.,  pp.  480,  481. 

24  See  “The  Writings  of  George 
Washington,”  &c.,  Vol.  viii.,  p.  112. 
Edition  of  Jared  Sparks. 

25  This  brave  and  able  officer — born  in 


Daniel  Morgan, 

Major-General  U  S  Army 


Alexander  Hamilton 

Secretary  to  the  L/.S  Treasury. 


Thomas  Jefferson 

Third  President  of  the  U  S. 


John  Adams. 

Second  President  of  the  U.  S. 


BATTLE  OF  EUTAW  SPRINGS.  273 

General  Green  marched  against  the  British.  They  were  now  commanded 
by  Colonel  Stewart.  Their  forces  retired  before  the  Americans,  who 
pursued  them  down  the  right  bank.  At  Eutaw  Springs  in  South  Caro¬ 
lina,  the  British  took  up  a  position  to  give  battle,  and  a  severe  engage¬ 
ment  there  took  place.  Colonel  William  Washington  commanded  the 
cavalry,  and  he  was  distinguished  for  his  gallantry,  especially  on  this 
occasion.  About  600  men  were  lost  by  the  British  and  Americans. 
The  battle  of  Eutaw  Springs  was  fought  on  the  8th  of  September.  Both 
sides  claimed  the  victory.  However,  Colonel  Washington  was  there 
wounded  and  taken  prisoner.26 

The  British  were  now  closed  up  in  that  narrow  tract  between  the 
Cooper  and  Ashley  Rivers.  Still  Green  was  unable  to  make  any  im¬ 
pression  on  them,  as  he  stood  in  need  of  artillery,  ammunition  and 
stores.  Besides,  the  militia  in  large  numbers  had  deserted  him.  He 
took  up  a  position,  notwithstanding,  on  the  hills  of  the  Santee.  Mean¬ 
while,  Marion,  Sumpter  and  Lee  were  most  active  in  their  raids  on  the 
enemy.27 

While  these  incidents  took  place,  Lord  Cornwallis  had  resolved  to 
march  upon  the  State  of  Virginia.  Having  effected  a  junction  with  the 
British  troops  there,28  he  ravaged  the  country  along  the  James  River, 
and  he  destroyed  property,  it  is  said,  to  the  amount  of  about  ten  million 
dollars.  Lafayette  had  been  stationed  at  Richmond  Virginia,  with  a 
small  force,  while  General  Anthony  Wayne  had  been  despatched  with 
troops  to  aid  General  Green,  and  his  course  also  lay  through  that  State.29 
Cornwallis  desired  greatly  to  prevent  their  junction,  but  he  did  not 
succeed.  Finding  himself  so  superior  in  the  number  of  his  forces,  while 
scorning  his  French  opponents  and  the  youth  of  Lafayette,  Cornwallis 
wrote  to  Great  Britain  “  the  boy  cannot  escape  me.” 

The  American  Major-General  Green  and  the  French  Volunteer 
General  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette  ably  manceuvered  against  Lord  Corn- 


Ireland  December  7th  1754 — served 
from  the  opening  of  the  Revolutionary- 
war  at  Bunker’s  Hill  nearly  to  its 
close.  He  was  appointed  to  command 
a  corps  of  the  Irish  Volunteers,  but 
many  of  these  deserted  to  the  Ameri¬ 
cans.  The  character  he  had  obtained 
in  South  Carolina  for  excessive  mili¬ 
tary  severity  was  greatly  redeemed 
in  after  years,  when  he  became  the 
distinguished  liberal  statesman  Earl 
of  Moira,  the  title  by  which  he  is  best 
known.  He  opposed  with  great  elo¬ 
quence  in  the  House  of  Lords  the 
proposed  union  of  Ireland  s  Parlia¬ 
ment  with  that  of  Engand  in  1799. 
He  warmly  advocated  the  Catholic 
claims,  and  he  lived  to  witness  the 
accomplishment  of  Catholic  Emanci- 

'  1829.  On  the  28th  of 

,  that  same  year,  he  died 


on  board  of  an  English  vessel,  in  the 
Bay  of  Naples.  To  him  C.  Stedman, 
who  served  in  the  Revolutionary 
War,  dedicated  his  work  in  two  8vo. 
vols.,  “  The  History  of  the  Origin, 
Progress,  and  Termination  of  the 
American  War.” 

26  See  “  The  Annual  Register  for 
1782,”  Vol.  xxv.  History  of  Europe, 
chap,  ix.,  pp.  190  to  192. 

27  See  David  Ramsay’s  “  History  of 
the  American  Revolution,”  Vol  ii., 
chap,  xxiv.,  pp.  254  to  281. 

28  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,”  &c.,  Vol.  i.,  chap, 
xiii.,  p.  363. 

29  See  C.  Stedman’s  “  History  of 
the  Origin,  Progress,  and  Termina¬ 
tion  of  the  American  War,”  Vol.  ii., 
chap,  xliv.,  p.  435. 

T 


pation  in 
November 


274 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


wallis  and  the  English  forces  under  his  command.30  The  English 
General  retired  towards  the  mouth  of  the  J ames  River,  intending  there 
to  embark  a  part  of  his  army  for  New  York.31  Owing  to  the  British 
blockade  at  Newport,  the  French  army  stationed  there  was  inactive.  At 
this  time,  Washington  and  his  army  held  a  central  position  between 
the  forces  of  Lord  Cornwallis  and  those  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton  in 
New  York.  His  movements  were  mysterious,  and  his  real  object 
could  not  be  discovered  by  the  enemy.  The  French  Admiral  He  Grasse 
had  been  engaged  during  the  summer  against  the  English,  in  the  West 
Indies ;  but  in  August,  he  sailed  northwards,  to  co-operate  with 
Washington,32  who  soon  received  intelligence  of  his  arrival  at  Chesapeake 
Bay.  At  first,  a  combined  attack  of  the  Americans  and  the  French 
upon  New  York  had  been  projected,  but  finally  it  was  abandoned.33  It 
was  then  resolved,  to  march  conjointly  against  Cornwallis  in  Virginia, 
by  sending  the  whole  French  army  under  Rochambeau,  and  so  many  of 
the  Continentals  as  could  be  spared,  to  the  Chesapeake.34  The  army  of 
Rochambeau  marched  from  Newport  to  join  Washington’s  forces  in  the 
Highlands,  and  when  both  were  combined,  they  seemed  to  threaten  Sir 
Henry  Clinton’s  position.  When  the  movements  of  Washington  were 
ascertained,  and  when  the  French  had  left  Newport,  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
sent  a  British  force  under  Benedict  Arnold  to  devastate  Connecticut, 
his  native  province.35  Thus,  he  hoped,  that  Washington  might  be 
induced  to  turn  back  for  its  defence.  While  the  British  army  was  under 
Arnold’s  command,  he  burned  New  London  on  the  6th  of  September, 
but  with  the  loss  of  two  regiments,36  and  he  took  possession  of  Fort 
Griswold,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Thames  River.37  There  a  number 
of  people  were  massacred. 

Meantime,  Sir  Henry  Clinton  and  his  soldiers  feared  the  investment 
of  New  York.  But  before  he  was  aware  of  their  real  purpose,  Generals 
Washington  and  Rochambeau  had  moved  their  armies  towards  the 
Delaware.  Admiral  Graves  and  the  British  fleet  at  New  York  now 
sailed  to  the  relief  of  Cornwallis.  Off  the  Capes  of  the  Chesapeake  a 


30See  Bayard  Tuckerman’s  “Life 
of  General  Lafayette,”  &c.,  Vol  i., 
chap,  vi.,  pp.  122  to  138. 

31  See  “  The  History  of  the  War  in 
America,  between  Great  Britain  and 
her  Colonies,  from  its  Commencement 
to  its  conclusion,  in  1783.”  Yol.  iii., 
chap,  xii.,  pp.  299  to  233. 

32  See  John  Gilmarv  Shea’s  “Opera¬ 
tions  of  the  French  Fleet  under  Count 
de  Grasse.”  New  York,  1864. 

33  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,”  &c.,  Vol.  L,  chap,  xiii., 
pp.  358  to  363.  Also,  C.  Stedman’s 
“  History  of  the  Origin,  Progress,  and 
Termination  of  the  American  War,” 
Vol.  ii.,  chap,  xliv.,  p.  437. 

34  See  Washington’s  and  Rocham- 


beau’s  joint  letter  to  Count  de  Grasse 
from  the  camp  at  Phillipsburg,  dated 
17th  August,  1781,  in  “  The  \v  lutings 
of  George  Washington,”  &c.,  Vol. 
viii.,  pp.  130  to  133.  Edition  of 
Jared  Sparks. 

35  See  C.  Stedman’s  “  History  of 
the  Origin,  Progress,  and  Termina¬ 
tion  of  the  American  War,”  Vol.  ii., 
chap,  xliv.,  pp.  448  to  451. 

36  See  Horace  Walpole’s  “Journal 
of  the  Reign  of  King  George  the 
Third,  from  the  year  1771  to  1783,” 
Vol.  ii.,  p.  473. 

37  See  Benson  J.  Lossing’s  “  Pic¬ 
torial  Field-Book  of  the  Revolution/’ 
Vol.  ii.,  chap,  ii.,  pp.  42  to  45. 


INVESTMENT  OP  YORKTOWN. 


275 


naval  encounter  took  place,  on  the  5th  of  September.38  The  English 
vessels  were  greatly  damaged,  and  they  were  obliged  to  sail  for  New  York 
in  order  to  refit.  Meanwhile,  a  number  of  French  ships  arrived  from  New¬ 
port,  to  strengthen  those  under  the  command  of  De  Grasse ;  while  the 
armies  of  Washington  and  of  Rochambeau  marched  to  the  head  waters  of 
Chesapeake  Bay.  There  both  Generals  went  on  board  the  French  fleet, 
to  concert  further  operations.39  The  American  commander-in-chief  had 
thus  changed  his  course  of  action,  by  moving  south  to  co-operate  with 
Lafayette  and  the  French  fleet.  Already  it  lay  in  the  Chesapeake,40 
having  now  blocked  up  the  James  and  York  Rivers,  while  reinforcements 
were  landed  for  Lafayette.  At  this  time,  Cornw allis  received  instructions 
from  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  which  entirely  altered  his  purpose.  He  now 
resolved  to  transfer  his  whole  army  to  that  peninsula  between  the  James 
and  York  Rivers,  where  a  British  fleet  and  reinforcements  might  easily 
reach  him.  This  too  was  supposed  to  be  a  favourable  position  for 
future  operations.  On  the  28th  of  August,  at  the  head  of  the  English 
army,  General  Lord  Cornwallis  entered  Yorktown,  Virginia.41  On  the 
14th  of  September,  Generals  Washington  and  Rochambeau  had  joined 
the  division  of  Lafayette  at  Williamsburg,42  between  the  James  and 
York  Rivers.48 

Cornwallis  had  been  assured  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  that  every  possible 
means  would  be  tried  by  the  navy  and  army  to  relieve  him.  In  the 
beginning  of  October,  Washington  proceeded  to  invest  the  English 
garrison  of  Yorktown,  with  a  force  of  12,000  men.  Here  Cornwallis 
was  to  be  attacked,  by  the  united  armies  of  America  and  France; 
accordingly,  batteries  were-  constructed,  and  fire  was  opened  on  the 
town.  The  English  were  soon  cooped  up  by  land  in  Yorktown.44  How¬ 
ever,  the  sea  was  accessible,  and  their  position  was  protected  by  two 
rivers.  Nevertheless,  a  diversion  by  the  French  ships-of-war,  that  lay  at 
the  mouth  of  York  River,  was  apprehended  by  Lord  Cornwallis.  After 
remaining  for  two  days  occupying  a  strong  position  in  front  of  Yorktown, 


88  See  an  account  of  this  engage¬ 
ment,  in  C.  T).  Yonge’s  “History  of 
the  British  Navy,  from  the  earliest 
period  to  the  Present  Time,”  Vol. 
i.,  chap,  xv.,  pp.  373  to  375.  London. 
1863.  Two  vols.,  8vo. 

39  See  Henry  Cabot  Lodge’s  “  George 
Washington,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  x.,  p. 
306. 

40  See  Lossing’s  “  Pictorial  Field- 
Book  of  the  Revolution,”  Vol.  ii., 
chap,  xx.,  pp.  507  to  530.  Also,  C. 
Stedman’s  “  History  of  the  Origin, 
Progress,  and  Termination  of  the 
American  War,”  Vol.  ii.,chap.  xliv., 
pp.  441  to  448. 

41  An  excellent  Map  illustrating 
the  operations  in  Virginia,  1781,  may 
be  consulted  in  “  The  Writings  of 


George  Washington,”  &c.,  Vol.  viii,, 
p.  158.  Edition  of  Jared  Sparks. 

42  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,”  &c.,  Vol.  i.,  chap, 
xiii.,  p.  366. 

43  The  movements  of  the  whole 
Southern  Campaign  of  Lord  Corn¬ 
wallis  are  illustrated  on  a  Map  post- 
fixed  to  “  Correspondence  of  Charles, 
First  Marquis  of  Cornwallis,”  edited 
by  Charles  Ross,  Esq.,  Vol.  i. 

44  Tho  news  of  their  distressed  state 
only  reached  England  on  the  3rd  of 
November,  through  Colonel  Robert 
Conway,  who  had  arrived  from  New 
York.  See  Horace  Walpole’s  “  Jour¬ 
nal  of  the  Reign  of  King  George  the 
Third,  from  the  year  1771  to  1783,” 
Vol.  ii.,  p.  473. 

S.  St 


276  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

and  expecting  to  be  attacked,  upon  observing  that  the  Americans  and 
French  were  taking  measures,  which  could  not  fail  of  turning  the  English 
left  flank  in  a  short  time,  and  receiving  on  the  second  evening  Sir  Henry 
Clinton’s  letter  dated  the  24th  of  September,  that  the  relief  should  sail 
about  the  5th  of  October,  Cornwallis  withdrew  his  troops  within  the  works 
on  the  night  of  the  29  th  of  September.  He  hoped  by  the  labour  and 
firmness  of  the  soldier’s  to  protect  their  defences  until  relief  could  arrive. 

The  besiegers  broke  ground  when  darkness  set  in  on  the  30th,  and  then 
constructed  on  that  night  and  during  the  following  days  and  nights,  two 
redoubts.45  On  the  6th  and  7th  of  October,  the  trenches  were  opened, 
and  cannons  were  placed  in  position. 46  Brigadier-General  O’Hara 
commanded  on  the  right  of  the  British  position,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Abercrombie  was  on  the  left.  47  A  detachment  of  Guards,  with  the 
80th  company  of  Grenadiers,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Lake,  attacked  the  American  position  on  one  side,  while  a  battalion  of 
light  infantry,  under  command  of  Major  Armstrong,  attacked  the  other 
and  both  succeeded,  by  forcing  the  redoubts  that  covered  them,  spiking 
eleven  guns  and  killing  or  wounding  about  a  hundred  of  the  French  troops 
who  had  the  guard  in  that  part  of  the  trenches,  This  happened  with 
little  loss  on  the  English  side.  The  cannons,  having  been  spiked  in  a 
hurry,  were  soon  rendered  fit  for  service  again,  and  before  dark  the 
whole  parallel  and  batteries  appeared  to  be  nearly  complete.  At  this 
time,  Cornwallis  knew  that  there  was  no  part  of  the  whole  front 
opposed  on  which  he  could  point  a  single  gun,  and  his  shells  were 
nearly  expended  ;  he  had  therefore  only  to  chose  between  preparing  to 
surrender  next  day,  or  by  endeavouring  to  get  off  with  the  greatest  part 
of  the  English  troops.  He  determined  to  attempt  the  latter,  reflecting 
that  though  it  should  prove  unsuccessful  in  its  immediate  object,  it 
might  at  least  delay  the  enemy  in  the  prosecution  of  further  enterprises. 
Sixteen  large  boats  were  prepared,  and  upon  other  pretexts  they  were 
ordered  to  be  in  readiness  to  receive  troops  precisely  at  ten  o’clock. 
With  these,  Cornwallis  hoped  to  pass  the  infantry  over  during  the 
night,  by  abandoning  the  baggage,  and  leaving  a  detachment  to  capitulate 
for  the  townspeople  as  also  for  the  sick  and  wounded.  On  this  subject, 
a  letter  was  ready  to  be  delivered  to  General  Washington.  48 

After  making  all  arrangements  with  the  utmost  secrecy,  the  light 
infantry,  the  greatest  part  of  the  Guards,  and  part  of  the  23rd 
regiment,  landed  at  Gloucester.  At  this  critical  moment,  the  weather 
from  being  moderate  and  calm  changed  to  a  violent  storm  of  wind  and 


45  The  American  Sappers  and  Miners 
were  under  the  command  of  James  Clin¬ 
ton.  Knox  commanded  the  artillery ;  un¬ 
der  him  were  Stephens  and  Carrington. 

46  See  “  The  History  of  the  War  in 
America,  between  Great  Britain  and 
her  Colonies,  from  its  commencement  to 
its  Conclusion,  1783,”  Vol.  ii. ,  chap, 
xli.,  pp.  243,  244. 


47  A  Plan  of  the  Siege  of  Yorktown, 
October  1781,  is  given  in  the  “Writ¬ 
ings  of  George  Washington,”  &c., 
Vol.  viii. ,  p.  186.  Edition  of  Jared 
Sparks. 

48  See  C.  Stedman’s  “  History  of  the 
Origin,  Progress,  and  Termination  of 
the  American  War,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap, 
xlv.,  pp.  452  to  468. 


SURRENDER  OF  CORNWALLIS  AND  HIS  ARMY. 


277 


rain.  This  nearly  drove  all  the  boats,  some  of  which  had  troops  on  board, 
down  the  river.  It  was  soon  evident,  that  the  intended  passage  was 
impracticable,  and  the  absence  of  their  boats  rendered  it  equally 
impossible  to  bring  back  the  troops  that  had  passed.  In  such  a 
situation,  with  the  English  force  divided,  their  enemy’s  batteries  opened 
at  day-break.  The  passage  between  Yorktown  and  Gloucester  was 
much  exposed ;  but,  the  boats  having  now  returned  were  ordered  to 
bring  back  the  troops  that  had  passed  during  the  night.  These  joined 
in  the  forenoon  without  much  loss.  The  numbers  of  Cornwallis’ 
army  had  been  greatly  diminished  by  the  enemy’s  fire,  but  particularly 
by  sickness ;  while,  the  strength  and  spirit  of  those  in  the  works 
were  much  exhausted,  by  the  fatigue  of  constant  watching  and 
unremitting  duty.  Meanwhile,  the  American  and  French  batteries 
raked  the  English  with  shot  and  shell,  swept  away  their  defences,  and 
burned  some  of  the  shipping.49 

After  a  siege  of  several  days,  preparations  were  made  to  storm  two 
strong  redoubts.  One  was  successfully  attacked  by  the  Americans,  under 
Colonel  Alexander  Hamilton,50  and  the  other  by  the  French,  under 
Lafayette  and  Baron  de  Viomenil.51  The  British  works  in  the  mean¬ 
time  were  going  to  ruin.  Not  having  been  able  to  strenghthen  them 
by  abattis,  nor  in  any  other  manner  than  by  light  fraising,  which  the 
American  artillery  was  demolishing  wherever  they  fired,  the  engineers 
and  principal  officers  of  Cornwallis’  army  agreed  in  opinion  with  their 
general,  that  they  were  in  many  places  assailable  in  the  forenoon,  and 
that  by  the  continuance  of  a  similar  fire  for  a  few  hours  longer,  the 
defences  should  be  in  such  a  state  as  to  render  it  desperate,  with 
rapidly  diminishing  numbers,  to  attempt  their  maintenance.52  An 
assault,  which  from  the  numbers  and  precautions  of  the  enemy  could  not 
fail  to  succeed,  urged  the  British  general  to  capitulate.  A  correspondence 
between  Generals  Washington  and  Cornwallis  ensued  on  that  subject. 
The  terms  of  the  capitulation  were  at  length  agreed  upon,  and  better 
could  not  be  obtained  under  the  circumstances.53  The  conditions  of  the 
capitulation  were  identical  with  those  which  the  English  themselves 
had  imposed  on  General  Lincoln,  after  his  surrender  at  Charlestown.54 

Over  7,000  British  and  Hessian  soldiers  were  in  the  garrison,  and 


49  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,”  Vol  i.,  chap,  xiii.,  pp. 
367-70. 

50  See  Henry  Cabot  Lodge’s  “  Alex¬ 
ander  Hamilton,”  chap,  ii.,  pp.  25, 
26. 

51  See  Bayard  Tuckerman’s  “Life of 
General  Lafayette,”  &e.,  Vol.  i., 
chap,  vi.,  pp.  145,  146. 

52  Cornwallis  observed,  in  his  letter 
to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  that  at  this 
time  the  British  “  could  not  fire  a 
single  gun.”  See  “  Correspondence 
of  Charles,  First  Marquis  of  Corn¬ 


wallis,”  edited  with  notes  by  Charles 
Ross,  Esq.,  Vol.  i.,  Appendix,  No. 
ix.,  p.  512. 

53  Earl  Cornwallis  wrote  a  despatch 
to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  which  was 
dated  Yorktown,  Virginia,  October 
20th  1781.  This  he  sent  by  Lieu¬ 
tenant-Colonel  Abercrombie,  and  it 
gives  a  brief  account  of  the  occur¬ 
rences  and  motives,  which  induced 
him  to  surrender.  See  ibid.,  pp.  510 
to  513. 

54  See  the  Articles  of  Capitulation, 
ibid.,  No.  xv.,  pp.  515  to  518. 


278 


IRISH- A  MER I  CAN  HISTORY  OR  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


these  were  obliged  to  lay  down  their  arms.55  More  than  one-half  having 
been  sick  or  wounded,50  the  allied  French  and  Americans  drew  up  in 
two  straight  lines — one  facing  the  other — while  the  British  officers  and 
soldiers  and  their  German  auxiliaries,  deeply  humiliated,  passed  between 
them.  About  two  o’clock  the  garrison  sallied  forth,  and  passed  through 
with  shouldered  arms,  slow  and  solemn  steps,  the  drums  beating  a 
British  march.  The  soldiers  were  all  well  clad,  having  been  furnished 
with  new  suits  prior  to  the  capitulation.  They  were  led  by  General 
O’Hara  on  horseback,  who,  riding  up  to  General  Washington  took  oil 
his  hat,  and  apologised  for  the  non-appearance  of  Lord  Cornwallis 
on  account  of  indisposition.  Washington  received  him  with  dignified 
courtesy,  but  pointed  to  Major-General  Lincoln  as  the 
officer  who  was  to  receive  the  submission  of  the  garrison.57 
By  him,  they  were  conducted  into  a  field,  where  they  were  to  ground 
their  arms.58  In  passing  through  the  lines  formed  by  the  allied  armies, 
their  march  was  careless  and  irregular,  and  their  aspect  sullen.59  Not¬ 
withstanding,  the  French  and  Americans  were  highly  considerate, 
treating  the  vanquished  with  courtesy  and  even  with  generosity.00 
With  that  character  and  sense  of  dignity  and  magnanimity  which 
distinguished  the  American  Commander-in-Chief,  although  knowing  his 
troops  to  be  highly  elated  and  filled  with  inexpressible  sensations,  yet 
did  he  recommend  to  them  the  suppression  of  any  unseemly  manifesta¬ 
tions  of  triumph.61 

The  English  land  troops  were  surrendered  as  prisoners  of  war  to 
Congress,  while  the  English  naval  force  was  assigned  to  the  French.02 


55  See  Henry  Cabot  Lodge’s  “  George 
Washington,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  x.,  p. 
309. 

56  See  David  Ramsey’s  “  Life  of 
George  Washington,”  chap,  viii., 
London,  1807,  8vo.  Also,  Rev. 
George  R.  Gleig’s  “Lives  of  the 
most  eminent  British  Military  Com¬ 
manders,”  Vol.  iii.,  pp.  155,  166. 

57  See  the  History  of  the  War  in 
America,  between  Great  Britain  and  her 
Colonies,  from  its  Commencement  to 
its  Conclusion,  in  1783,”  Vol.  iii., 
chap,  xii.,  pp.  245  to  250. 

59  When  the  English  surrendered 
and  marched  there  to  throw  down 
their  arms,  as  also  to  deliver  up  their 
standards  and  battle  flags,  Ensign 
W  ilson,  an  Irish-American,  aged 
eighteen  years,  received  these  spoils 
from  the  conquered  army. 

59  The  order  to  “  ground  arms  ” 
was  given  by  the  platoon  officers  in 
a  tone  of  deep  chagrin,  and  many  of 
the  soldiers  threw  down  their  mus¬ 
kets  with  a  violence  sufficient  to  break 
them. 


60  In  his  letter  of  October  20th 
1781,  Lord  Cornwallis  writes: — “The 
kindness  and  attention  that  have  been 
shown  to  us  by  the  French  officers 
in  particular,  their  delicate  sensibility 
of  our  situation,  their  generous  and 
pressing  offer  of  money,  both  public 
and  private  to  any  amount,  has  really 
gone  beyond  what  I  can  possibly  de¬ 
scribe,  and  will,  I  hope,  make  an 
impression  in  the  breast  of  every 
officer,  whenever  the  fortune  of  war 
should  put  any  of  them  in  our 
power.” — “  Correspondence  of  Charles, 
First  Marquis  of  Cornwallis,”  edited 
with  Notes,  by  Charles  Ross,  Esq., 
Vol.  i.,  Appendix  No.  ix.,  p.  512. 

61  The  conduct  of  the  American 
army  was  in  conformity  with 
fhe  instructions  of  Washington: 
“  My  boys,  let  there  be  no  in¬ 
sults  over  a  conquered  foe.  When 
they  lay  down  their  arms,  don’t 
huzza ;  posterity  will  huzza  for  you.” 

62  Washington  immediately  dis¬ 
patched  a  messenger  to  Thomas  Mc¬ 
Kean,  President  of  the  Continental 


RECEPTION  OF  THE  NEWS  IN  ENGLAND  AND  IRELAND. 


279 


When  the  President  received  the  welcome  news  at  a  late  hour,  McKean 
rose  from  his  bed  at  midnight,  and  spread  the  news  over  the  city. 
Philadelphia  was  illuminated  that  night,  and  next  day  Charles  Thompson 
read  the  despatch  to  Congress.  This  stunning  blow  to  the  hopes  of 
England  virtually  closed  the  war.63  On  the  very  day  Cornwallis  had 
surrendered,  Sir  Henry  Clinton  sailed  with  7,000  troops  in  thirty-five 
ships,  from  New  York,  hoping  to  arrive  in  time  for  bis  rescue.  But, 
having  reached  the  Chesapeake,  and  hearing  the  result,  he  again 
returned.64 

Although  Washington  dasired  next  to  besiege  Charleston,  yet  De 
Grasse  being  obliged  to  sail  immediately  for  the  West  Indies,  he  was 
necessitated  to  abandon  that  enterprise.  However,  he  sent  a  detach¬ 
ment  of  two  thousand  Continental  troops  under  command  of  General 
St.  Clair  southwards  to  strengthen  Major-General  Green,  who  had  a 
considerable  force  of  the  English  army  left  to  oppose  him.  The  prisoners 
were  marched  to  Winchester  in  Virginia  and  to  Fredericktown  in  Mary¬ 
land.  A  part  of  them  was  subsequently  brought  to  Lancaster  in 
Pennsylvania.  Lord  Cornwallis  and  the  other  principal  officers  went 
by  sea  on  parole.  Leaving  Rochambeau  at  Williamsburg,  where  the 
French  remained  until  the  following  summer,  the  American  army  was 
moved  again  to  New  Jersey  and  the  Highlands.65  All  these  matters 
having  been  arranged,  on  the  5th  of  November  General  Washington 


Congress  Phildelphia,  conveying 
the  glad  tidings.  His  letter  giving 
an  account  of  the  surrender  is  dated, 
Head-quarters,  near  York,  19th  of 
October  1781.  See  ‘The  Writings 
of  George  Washington,”  Vol.  viii., 
&c.  Edition  of  Jared  Sparks. 

63  The  news  had  a  terrible  effect  on 
Lord  North.  He  threw  up  his  arms, 
as  if  he  had  received  a  ball  in  the 
breast,  exclaiming  wildly,  as  he  paced 
up  and  down  the  apartment :  “  My 
God,  it  is  all  over !”  However,  when 
Lord  George  Germain  received  the 
earliest  intelligence  of  the  surrender, 
he  communicated  it  by  letter  to  the 
king,  who  had  been  the  originator 
of  the  idea  and  measure  to  tax  the 
Americans,  and  who  warned  his  reluc¬ 
tant  prime  minister  Granville,  that  if 
he  were  disinclined  or  afraid  to  make 
the  attempt,  others  could  be  found 
with  sufficient  resolution  to  carry  it 
through.  With  characteristic  obsti- 
nancy  George  III.  at  once  wrote  to 
Lord  George  Germain,  that  the  prin¬ 
ciples  of  his  conduct  should  still  be 
“  a  prosecution  of  the  present  con¬ 
test,”  and  hoping  that  none  of  his 
ministers  would  think  otherwise.  See 
the  anonymous  and  extravagantly  eu¬ 


logistic  work,  “  George  the  Third,  his 
Court  and  Family,”  Vol.  i.,  sec.  iii. , 
.  280,  and  Vol.  ii. ,  sec.  v.,  p  2. 
wo  volumes,  London,  1820,  8vo. 
These  books  contain  several  good 
copper-plate  engravings  of  the  King, 
Queen,  and  their  children. 

64  In  a  letter  to  the  Earl  of  Car¬ 
lisle,  dated  New  York,  12th  December 
1781,  General  Sir  Henry  Clinton  ex 
plains  the  circumstances  whereby  he 
failed  to  co-operate  with  Lord  Corn¬ 
wallis  before  the  submission  of  him¬ 
self  and  army.  See  B.  F.  Stevens’s 
“  Fac-similes  of  Manuscripts  in  Euro¬ 
pean  Archives  relating  to  America,” 
1773-1783;- etc.,  Vol.  i.,  No.  129. 

65  The  reader,  who  desires  a  very 
detailed  narrative  of  events  recorded 
in  the  present  and  previous  chapter, 
may  consult  a  very  reliable  work, 
Richard  Hildreth’s  “  History  of  the 
United  States  of  America.”  First 
series,  from  the  Discovery  of  the  Con¬ 
tinent  under  the  Federal'Constitution, 
1497-1787.  In  three  volumes,  8vo. 
The  first  edition  appeared  in  1849, 
but  a  revised  edition  was  published 
in  1854.  When  the  war  virtually 
ended,  a  meeting  of  the  Friendly 
Sons  of  St.  Patrick  was  held  in 


280 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


left  Yorktown  by  way  of  Mount  Vernon  for  Philadelphia,  and  on  the 
day  after  his  arrival,  in  Congress  he  was  greeted  with  a  congratulatory 
address  by  the  President.66 

In  no  country  of  Europe  was  greater  joy  and  satisfaction  generally 
felt,  even  if  it  could  not  then  be  publicly  expressed,  than  in  Ireland, 
when  those  tidings  were  conveyed  from  America.67  Meanwhile,  the  Irish 
Parliament  had  been  called  together  in  the  month  of  October,  1781. 
The  news  of  Lord  Cornwallis’  surrender  reaching  Dublin,  Mr.  Yelverton 
moved  a  loyal  address  to  His  Majesty  recommending  the  restoration  of 
a  lasting  and  an  honourable  peace,  which  was  carried  by  a  large  majority. 
Afterwards,  on  the  11th  December,  in  a  learned  and  most  eloquent 
speech,  Henry  Flood  moved  for  a  committee  to  examine  the  precedents 
and  records,  in  explanation  of  Poyning’s  law,  a  statute  which  required, 
that  heads  of  all  bills  enacted  by  the  Irish  Parliament  should  be  sent 
to  England  and  there  approved  of,  before  they  could  be  legislated  upon 
in  Ireland.  This  motion  was  defeated,  however,  by  a  majority  of  139 
against  67 ;  the  ministerial  placemen  and  adherents  being  then  too 
numerous  and  over  confident  in  their  ability  to  restrain  the  popular 
demand  for  a  free  parliamentary  constitution.68  Nevertheless,  animated 
by  a  patriotic  spirit,  and  with  arms  in  their  hands,  the  Volunteers  69  had 
resolved  on  attaining  their  object.  This  was  soon  formulated,  that  no 
body  of  men,  other  than  the  King,  Lords  and  Commons,  of  Ireland, 
could  make  laws  to  bind  that  kingdom.70 


December  1781,  to  invite  General 
Washington  and  his  suite  to  dine  with 
them ;  but  owing  to  pressing  engage¬ 
ments  on  the  invited  guests,  their  ban- 
uet  was  deferred  to  January  7th 
782,  when  with  a  number  of  distin¬ 
guished  guests  he  attended,  received 
a  suitable  address,  and  was  adopted 
as  an  honorary  member  of  the  Society. 

66  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xiii.,  pp. 
371,  372. 

67  The  first  news  of  Cornwallis’ 
surrender  was  brought  from  France 
into  England  on  the  25th  of  Novem¬ 
ber,  and  this  was  soon  confirmed  by 
an  express  from  Sir  Henry  Clinton. 
See  Horace  Walpole’s  “  Journal  of  the 
Reign  of  King  George  the  Third,  from 
the  year  1771  to  1783,”  vol.  ii.,  p.  474. 

68  The  reader  who  desires  to  have 
a  comprehensive  understanding  of  the 


state  of  Ireland  previous  to  and  in¬ 
cluding  this  parliamentary  struggle, 
contemporaneous  with  the  American 
Revolutionary  War,  may  find  the  in¬ 
cidents  very  lucidly  stated,  in  Wil¬ 
liam  Edward  Hartpole  Lecky’s  “  His¬ 
tory  of  England  in  the  Eighteenth 
Century,”  Vol.  iv.,  chaps.  xvi.,xvii., 
pp.  312  to  560. 

69  For  a  most  accurately  historical 
and  elegantly  written  account  of  the 
formation  and  actions  of  those  na¬ 
tional  guards,  the  reader  is  referred  to 
Thomas  McNevin’s  “  History  of  the 
Volunteers  of  1782.”  Centenary 
edition.  Dublin :  Duffy  and  Son.  15 
Wellington  Quay,  18mo. 

70  See  Francis  Plowden’s  “  History 
of  Ireland  from  its  Invasion  under 
Henry  II.  to  its  Union  with  Great 
Britain,”  Vol.  ii.,  Book,  iii.,  chap- 
v.,  p.  209. 


CHANGE  OF  MINISTRY  IN  ENGLAND.  281 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


Change  of  Ministry,  and  Overtures  of  Peace  from  England  accepted  by  the 
Americans — Independence  of  Parliament  obtained  for  Ireland,  and  Trade 
with  the  United  States  inaugurated— Peace  proclaimed  and  Recognition  of 
American  Independence  by  the  different  European  Powers — Evacuation  of 
New  York  by  the  English,  and  D's banding  of  the  American  Army — Forma¬ 
tion  of  the  United  States  Constitution— Washington  elected  First  President 
— His  Administration  and  Policy— '  Indian  Troubles  on  the  Frontiers — Second 
Term  of  Washington’s  Admin  vi/ation — Wayne’s  Victories  over  the  Indians 
— Retirement  of  Washington  to  private  Life,  and  Election  of  John  Adams  as 
Second  President — Difference/  of  the  United  States  with  other  Powers — 
Death  of.  Washington. 

Although  King  George  15  i.  had  obstinately  insisted  on  the  con¬ 
tinuance  of  War,1  the  city  of  London  and  the  English  people  were 
almost  unanimous  in  tlip/x  desire  for  a  peace.2  However,  notwith¬ 
standing  his  reluctance  to  resign,  Lord  North  could  in  vain  oppose 
public  opinion ,  especially  when  General  Conway  had  moved  in  February 
1782,  that  the  war  b*.  America  should  no  longer  be  pursued.  On  a 
division  in  the  Hou^e  of  Commons,  this  motion  was  lost  by  a  majority 
of  one:  193  being  for,  and  194  against  it.  The  matter  was  pressed 
again  by  the  opposition;  and  at  length,  on  the  20th  of  March,  Lord 
North  announced  in  Parliament,  that  his  administration  existed  no 
longer.3  Meantime,  Sir  Henry  Clinton  had  resigned  his  position  as 
commander-in-chief  in  America,  and  Sir  Guy  Carleton4  was  appointed 
to  fill  his  place. 

So  disastrous  was  the  last  campaign  for  England,  that  the  Independ¬ 
ence  of  the  United  States  was  soon  acknowledged  by  the  different  Euro¬ 
pean  nations,  many  of  these  having  been  neutral  during  the  war  :  viz. , 
by  Sweden  and  Denmark,  in  February ;  by  Holland  in  April ; 5  and 
later  still  by  Russia. 

On  the  resignation  of  Lord  North,  the  Marquis  of  Rockingham  had 
been  deputed  to  form  a  eabinet.6  As  Premier  and  First  Commissioner 
of  the  Treasury,  he  appointed  the  Earl  of  Shelburne  and  Charles  J ames 


1  See  “  The  Correspondence  of  King 
George  the  Third  with  Lord  North 
from  1768  to  1783,”  edited  by  W. 
Bodham  Donne,  Vol.  ii.,  Letters  693, 
697,  701,  pp.  386  to  397. 

2  See  Rev.  H.  Fergus’  “  History  of 
the  Western  World,”  Vol.  ii.  United 
States,  chap,  xi.,  pp.  198,  199,  Lard- 
ner’s  Cabinet  Cyclopaedia. 

3  See  “  The  Annual  Register,”  for 

the  year  1782,  Vol.  xxv.,  History  of 

Europe,  chap,  vii.,  pp.  167  to  176. 


4  Afterwards  created  Lord  Dorchester. 

5  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  x.,  chap, 
xx vi.,  p.  527. 

6  In  writing  to  Lord  North,  King 
George  III.  reveals  the  poignancy  of 
his  feelings  at  the  change  of  Ministry. 
See  “  The  Correspondence  of  King 
George  the  Third  with  Lord  North 
from  1768  to  1783,”  edited  by  W. 
Bodham  Donne,  Vol.  ii.  Letter  724, 
p.  420. 


282  IRISII-AM EP.ICAN  IIISTORV  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Fox  his  Secretaries  of  Sta  te,  and  Lord  Camden  was  made  President  of 
the  Council.  General  Conway  was  nominated  Commander-in-chief 
of  the  Forces,  and  the  Duke  of  Richmond  Master-General  of  the 
Ordnance. 

The  first  great  question  introduced  by  ministers,  and  that  called  for 
immediate  solution,  was  the  recognition  of  Irish  Constitutional  Inde¬ 
pendence  ;7  next,  the  arrangement  of  terms,  which  might  serve  for  the 
settlement  of  those  military  operations,  that  had  harassed  the  resources 
and  aggravated  the  feelings  of  people,  both  in  Europe  and  America. 
After  an  administration  only  lasting  for  three  months,  the  Marquis  of 
Rockingham  died  on  the  1st  of  July,  and  the  King  next  appointed  the 
Earl  of  Shelburne  to  be  his  successor  in  the  Treasury.  A  rupture  with 
Fox  and  Burke  soon  followed,  and  a  reconstruction  of  the  Ministry 
again  took  place.8  The  secret  reasons  assigned  for  their  differences  were 
soon  a  subject  for  public  discussion ;  but,  all  parties  seemed  to  agree,  that 
hostilities  should  cease.9  The  newly  formed  British  Cabinet  was  very 
willing  to  sue  for  a  peace,  and  proposals  to  that  effect  were  opened  to 
Congress.  The  first  overtures  were  not  cordially  received.10  Hostilities 
were  generally  suspended,  however,  and  accredited  representatives  to 
negotiate  a  treaty  were  at  last  nominated,  after  the  Earl  of  Shelburne 
and  Dr.  Franklin  had  settled  preliminaries  during  the  summer  of  1782. 11 
The  United  States  appointed  as  their  commissioners  John  Jay,  John 
Adams,  and  Benjamin  Franklin.12  The  latter  was  chief  director  in 
those  negotiations,  which  were  conducted  without  a  confidential  know¬ 
ledge  communicated  to  the  court  of  France,  although  such  an  in¬ 
struction  was  specially  enjoined  by  Congress.  The  representatives  of 
France,  Spain,  America  and  Great  Britain  assembled  in  Paris,  to 
deliberate  on  just  conditions,  and  on  the  30th  of  November  1782,  the 
Commissioners  of  England  and  of  the  United  States  signed  and  sealed 
fair  copies  of  the  convention ;  while  the  Articles  of  Peace,  although 
intituled  provisional,  were  made  definitive,  by  a  declaration  in  the 
preamble.13  In  these  it  was  declared,  that  His  Majesty  had  acknow¬ 
ledged  the  United  colonies  of  New  Hampshire,  Massachusetts  Bay, 
Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Plantations,  Connecticut,  New  York,  New 


7  “  The  success  of  America  brought 
emancipation  to  Ireland,  which  had 
suffered  even  more  than  the  United 
States  from  colonial  monopoly.” — See 
George  Bancroft’s  “  History  of  the 
United  States,”  Vol.  x.,  chap,  xxvii., 
p.  548. 

8  See  an  account  of  these  trans¬ 
actions  in  Lord  John  Russell’s  “Life 
•and  Times  of  Charles  James  Fox.” 
Vol.  i.,  chap,  xvi.,  pp  295  to  335. 

9  See  “  A  Complete  Account  of  the 
debate  in  the  House  of  Commons,  9th 
July  1782,  in  which  the  Cause  of  Mr 
Fox’s  Resignation  and  the  Great 
Question  of  American  Independence 


came  under  consideration.”  London, 
1782,  8vo. 

10  See  Rev.  H.  Fergus’  “History  of 
the  Western  World,”  Vol.  ii.,  “The 
United  States,”  chap,  xi.,  p.  201. 

1 1  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  x.,  chap, 
xxviii.,  pp.  551  to  558. 

12  See  “The  Works  of  Benjamin 
Franklin,”  and  Life  of  Benjamin 
Franklin,  by  Jared  Sparks,  prefixed. 
Vol.  i.,  chap,  xiii.,  pp.  474  to  488. 

13  See  George  Bancroft’s  “History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  x.,  chap 
xxix.,  pp.  574  to  591. 


INDEPENDENCE  OF  PARLIAMENT  FOR  IRELAND, 


283 


Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  North  Carolina, 
South  Carolina,  and  Georgia  to  be  “free,  sovereign  and  independent 
States.”  14 

While  these  negotiations  were  proceeding,  under  pressing  financial 
difficulties,15  the  American  soldiers  were  badly  paid  and  hardly  well  pro¬ 
visioned  by  Congress.  Already  100,000,000  dollars  had  been  spent 
during  that  protracted  contest,  while  at  its  close  the  treasury  had  a  debt 
of  40,000,000  dollars.  Even  this  did  not  include  the  outlay  of  the 
separate  States,  which  amounted  to  60,000,000  or  70,000,000  dollars 
more.  However,  it  was  a  comparatively  insignificant  sum,  as  compared 
with  the  £250,000,000,  which  England  had  contracted  at  the  close  of 
the  American  War.16  The  monetary  affairs  of  the  liberated  and  con¬ 
federated  States  were  in  a  very  embarrassed  condition  at  first ;  but,  great 
efforts  were  made  to  remedy  those  and  other  experienced  inconveniences. 
This  was  also  the  case  with  regard  to  Ireland,  and  by  a  happy  coincidence, 
she  had  achieved  her  partial  independence  this  same  year.  Commercial 
relations  and  trade  soon  began  to  revive,1”  as  a  result  of  newly  awakened 
national  life  ;  and,  with  Ireland  especially,  those  interchanges  increased  ; 
a  merchant  service  between  both  countries  was  established  to  a  very 
considerable  extent ;  18  and,  as  Irishmen  figured  very  prominently  in  the 
war  for  Independence,  so  were  mutual  good  offices  exchanged  in  peace, 
while  a  bond  of  sympathy  was  created  and  maintained.  After  the  con¬ 
clusion  of  this  war  of  the  Revolution,  the  English  Major-General 
Robertson,  in  the  English  House  of  Commons,  declared  upon  oath,19 
the  American  General  Lee  had  informed  him,  that  “  half  the  rebel 
Continental  army  were  from  Ireland.”20 


14  Such  was  the  end  of  the  contest 
between  Great  Britain  and  the  Ameri¬ 
can  Colonies ;  a  contest  in  which  the 
former  had  expended  upwards  of  one 
hundred  millions  of  money,  and  many 
thousand  valuable  lives,  and  had  'ob¬ 
tained  in  returi-  nothing  but  disgrace 
and  loss  of  territory;  but  by  which 
the  latter  was  raised  to  an  independ¬ 
ent  rank  among  the  nations,  which 
may  be  productive  of  more  important 
consequences  than  can  yet  be  fore¬ 
seen.” — -“History  of  the  War  in 
America,  between  Great  Britain  and 
her  Colonies  from  its  Commencement 
to  its  Conclusion,  in  1783.”  Vol.  iii., 
chap,  xiv.,  p.  266. 

15  These  are  explained  very  fully  in 
David  Ramsay’s  “  History  of  the 
American  Revolution,”  Vol.  ii. ,  chap, 
xvii.  Appendix  No.  II.  of  Continen¬ 
tal  Paper  Currency,  pp.  125  to  136. 

■®See  William  Edward  Hartpole 
Lecky’s  “  History  of  the  England  in 
the  Eighteenth  Century,”  Vol.  v., 
chap,  xviii.,  p.  53. 


17  See  Coxe’s  View  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  from  1770  to  1795, 
being  a  complete  History  of  its  Manu¬ 
factures  and  Revenues.”  1795,  8vo. 

18  See  Lord  Sheffield’s  “  Observa¬ 
tions  on  the  Trade  of  Ireland  with 
America  and  the  British  Colonies.” 
1785,  8 vo. 

19  In  reply  to  the  Right  Hon.  Ed¬ 
mund  Burke  a  member  of  the  Select 
Committee.  See  an  article  by  William 
J.  Onahan,  published  in  Donohoe’s 
“  Magazine,”  Vol.  v.,  No.  2,  p.  102. 
Boston,  1881. 

20  See  “  The  Evidence  as  given  be¬ 

fore  a  Committee  of  the  House  of 
Commons,  on  the  Detail  and  the  Con¬ 
duct  of  the  American  War.”  London, 
1785.  Also,  among  the  debates  in  the 
Irish  House  of  Parliament,  a  speech 
by  the  Hon.  Luke  Gardiner,  was  de¬ 
livered  April  2,  1784,  on  Irish  Com¬ 
merce,  and  from  which  is  taken  the 
following  passage :  “  America  was 

lost  by  Irish  emigrants.  These  emi 
grations  are  fresh  in  the  recollection 


284 


IR1SH-AMER1CAN  HISTORY  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  fortunate  conclusion  of  this  war  served  greatly  the  Irish  struggle 
for  parliamentary  independence.  When  the  convention  of  the  volun¬ 
teers  was  called  at  Dungannon,  for  the  15th  of  February,  1782,  they 
consulted  at  Charlemount  House  as  to  the  resolutions  to  be  passed. 
Two  hundred  and  fiity-two  delegates,  representing  143  corps,  unani¬ 
mously  adopted  the  resolutions  drafted  by  Grattan  and  Flood  as  their 
own,  and  sent  forth  anew  an  unequivocal  demand  for  civil  and  religious 
liberty.21  The  example  of  Ulster  soon  spread  throughout  Ireland.  A 
meeting  of  the  Leinster  volunteers,  Mr.  Flood  in  the  chair,  echoed  it 
from  Dublin ;  the  Munster  corps  endorsed  it  unanimously  in  Cork  ;  Lord 
Clanricarde  summoned  together  those  of  the  Western  counties  at 
Portumna.  Strengthened  by  these  demonstrations  of  public  opinion, 
Grattan  brought  forward  his  motion,  declaratory  of  the  rights  of  Ireland, 
on  the  16th  of  April.22  The  oi’ator  had  the  satisfaction  of  carrying  his 
address  on  the  subject  of  Irish  legislative  independence.23 

Although  the  war  had  virtually  closed  in  America,  still  were  there 
several  skirmishes  between  the  contending  forces,24  especially  in  the 
Southern  States,  where  Charleston  and  Savannah  were  held  by  the 
British  25  After  the  capture  of  Lord  Cornwallis,  General  Washington, 
with  the  greatest  part  of  his  force,  returned  to  take  up  a  position  near 
New  York.  An  officer,  who  reflected  the  opinion  of  many  in  the  army, 
wrote  a  letter  which  suggested  the  idea  that  he  should  be  declared 
king.26  This  proposition,  however,  was  indignantly  rejected  by  the 
patriotic  Commander-in-chief,  who  wrote  arepty,  dated  May  22nd  1782. 27 
On  the  13th  of  May,  Major-General  Knox  and  the  officers  of  the 
American  army  founded  a  society  known  as  that  of  “The  Cincinnati  ”28 
Among  civilians,  this  confederation  excited  great  jealousy  and  suspicion. 
On  the  ground  of  its  aristocratic  features,  and  a  fear  on  the  part  of 
Republicans,  that  the  design  was  to  establish  a  Monarchy  in  America,29 


of  every  gentleman  in  this  house.  1 
am  assured,  from  the  best  authority, 
the  major  part  of  the  American  Army 
was  composed  of  Irish,  and  that  the 
Irish  language  was  as  commonly 
spoken  in  the  American  ranks 
as  English.  I  am  also  in¬ 
formed,  that  it  was  their  valor 
determined  "the  contest,  so  that  Eng¬ 
land  had  America  detached  from  her 
by  force  of  Irish  emigrants,”  etc. 

21  See  an  interesting  account  of 
these  proceedings,  in  Sir  Jonah  Bar¬ 
rington’s  “  Rise  and  Fall  of  the  Irish 
Nation,”  chap,  vi.,  pp.  89  to  109. 
Paris,  1833,  8vo. 

22  See  the  account  of  these  move¬ 
ments  in  William  Edward  Hartpole 
Lecky’s  “  History  of  England  in  the 
Eighteenth  Century,”  Vol.  iv.,  chap, 
xvii.,  pp.  481  to  560. 

23  See  Francis  Plowden’s  “  History 


of  Ireland,  from  its  Invasion  under 
Henry  II.”  Vol.' ii.,  Book  iii.,  chap, 
v.,  pp.  221,  222. 

24  Some  deplorable  outrages  and 
raids  occurred  about  the  period  of 
suspense  between  war  and  peace. 

23  See  David  Ramsay’s  “  History  of 
the  American  Revolution,”  Vol.  ii., 
chap,  xxvi.,  pp.  291,  292. 

26  See  John  Adolphus’  “  History  of 
England  from  the  Accession  to  the 
Decease  of  King  George  the  Third,” 
Vol.  iv.,  chap.  liv.  p.  14. 

27  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  Georg® 
Washington,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xiv.,  pp. 
381-83. 

28  An  account  of  its  establishment 
and  rules  will  be  found  in  “  The 
Writings  of  George  Washington,” 
Vol.  ix.,  Appendix  No.  i.,  pp.  495 
to  500.  Edition  of  Jared  Sparks. 

29  See  John  Adolphus’  “  History  of 


Washington’s  farewell  address  to  tiie  army.  285 

it  was  greatly  decried ;  however,  it  afterwards  assumed  a  shape  perfectly 
unobtrusive,  and  insufficient  to  alarm  the  most  susceptible  feelings.30 
During  the  spring  and  summer  of  this  year,  the  British  held  Savannah 
and  Charleston  against  the  weak  American  forces  under  the  command 
of  Generals  Green  and  Wayne.  However,  the  latter  operating  in 
Georgia,  caused  the  evacuation  of  Savannah,  on  the  lltli  of  July — 
the  loyalists  retreating  into  Florida,  and  the  regulars  to  Charleston. 
This  city,  the  Americans  could  not  then  hope  to  recover  by  force  of 
arms,31  and  a  cessation  of  hostilities  was  looked  for  by  the  belligerents 
on  both  sides. 

On  the  8th  of  October,  a  treaty  between  Holland  and  the  United 
States  was  formed.  The  preliminary  articles  of  peace  between  Great 
Britain  and  France,  upon  which  those  with  America  should  take  effect, 
were  not  signed  until  the  20th  of  January  1783.  Those  with  Spain 
were  executed  at  the  same  time.32  The  action  of  the  Peace  Commis¬ 
sioners  was  ratified  by  Congress  in  March  1783. 33  On  the  19tli  of 
April  of  the  same  year — just  eight  years  after  the  first  revolutionary 
struggle  at  Lexington — a  proclamation  was  published  in  Washington’s 
camp  at  Newburg,  announcing  the  end  of  the  war.  A  definite  peace 
between  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States  was  finally  signed  at 
Paris  on  September  3rd.34  Peace  was  also  proclaimed  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  other  powers  at  war  with  her,  viz.  : — France,  Spain, 
and  Holland. 

About  this  time,  some  emissaries  had  spread  an  incendiary  address 
among  the  soldiers  at  Newburg,  to  organize  and  enforce  their  wrongs 
and  demands  upon  Congress.  Their  pay  had  been  iong  in  arrear. 
However,  Washington  called  his  officers  together,  and  he  delivered  a 
sensible  and  patriotic  address,  which  had  the  effect  of  quelling  a  spirit 
of  mutiny.35  Afterwards,  he  urged  upon  Congress  to  give  every  officer 
on  his  discharge  a  sum  equivalent  to  five  years’  pay.30  Before  the 
army  was  disbanded,  their  Commander-in-chief  addressed  a  circular 
letter  to  the  Governors  of  all  the  states,  from  his  Head  Quarters  at 
Newburg,  on  the  8th  of  June  1783. 37  On  the  2nd  of  November, 


England,”  &c.,  Vol.  iv.,  chap,  liv., 
pp.  15,  16. 

30Among  others,  as  a  jurist  and 
soldier,  Aldanus  Burke,  Chief  Justice 
of  South  Carolina,  wrote  a  pamphlet, 
under  the  name  of  Cassius,  against 
its  constitution,  and  this  was  after¬ 
wards  translated  into  French  by  Mira- 
beau.  The  original  had  for  its  motto 
• — “  Blow  ye  the  trumpet  in  Sion.” 

31  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  United  States,”  Vol.  x.,  chap, 
xxviii.,  pp.  560  to  565. 

32  See  C.  Stedman’s  “History  of  the 
Origin,  Progress,  and  Termination  of 
the  American  War,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap, 
xlvi.,  p.  497 


33  See  R  Proud’s  “  History  of  Penn¬ 
sylvania,”  Vol.  ii.  Philadelphia, 
1798,  8 vo. 

34  See  “The  Works  of  Benjamin 
Franklin,”  Vol.  i.  Edited  by  Jared 
Sparks.  The  Life  of  Benjamin  Frank¬ 
lin,  chap,  xiv.,  p.  501. 

35  See  Rev.  H.  Fergus’  “  History  of 
the  Western  World,”  Vol.  ii.  The 
United  States,  chap,  xi.,  pp.  205  to  214. 

36  This  was  to  be  given  in  money 
or  securities  at  six  per  cent,  per 
annum,  instead  of  half-pay  for  life. 
See  David  Ramsay’s  “  History  of  the 
American  Revolution,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap, 
xxvii.,  pp.  326,  327. 

37  See  “The  Writings  of  George 


286  IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Washington  issued  his  farewell  address  to  the  army.38  it  was 
dated  from  Rocky  Hill,  near  Princeton.39  However,  it  was  only 
on  the  4th  of  ."December  following,  that  an  affecting  leave-taking  be¬ 
tween  Washington  and  his  general  officers  was  arranged  ;  when  his 
emotions  were  too  strong  to  be  concealed,  and  tears  of  sensibility  also 
started  in  the  eyes  of  his  companions-in-arms.40  On  the  25th  of  No¬ 
vember,  the  city  of  New  York  was  evacuated  by  the  British  forces, 
and  Washington  made  his  public  entry  into  it.41  His  troops  marched 
thither  by  way  of  King’s  Bridge,  and  with  great  manifestations  of 
popular  rejoicing.  Taking  leave  of  his  heroic  companions-in-arms,  General 
Washington  resigned  his  commission  as  Commander-in-chief  into  the 
hands  of  Congress  then  in  session  at  Annapolis,  Maryland,  on  the  23rd  of 
December.  Moreover  he  refused  every  pecuniary  indemnity  for  his  in¬ 
valuable  military,  and  civic  services.42  He  then  sought  his  home,  at 
Mount  Vernon  on  the  Potomac,  with  the  publicly  expressed  thanks  of 
the  nation,  and  the  grateful  recognition  of  all  good  men.43 

When  the  war  for  Independence  had  finally  closed,  and  when  the 
new  Republic  had  been  solidly  established,  over  50,000  Catholics  are 
estimated  as  forming  a  religious  body,  not  yet  organised  into  a  dis¬ 
tinctive  ecclesiastical  province.44  The  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church  lived  chiefly  in  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  Pennsylvania,  with 
some  more  distant  French  settlers  in  Missouri,  Illinois,  Michigan  and 
Indiana  ;45  while  all  of  these  were  immediately  subject  either  to  the 
Vicar  Apostolic  of  the  London  district,  in  England,  or  to  the  Bishop 
of  Quebec.  Now  the  Catholics  of  the  States  addressed  the  Holy  See, 
on  the  subject  of  their  wishes.  In  the  year  1784,  they  were  placed 
temporarily  under  the  Rev.  John  Carroll  as  Prefect  Apostolic,  the  cele¬ 
brated  Benjamin  Franklin  recommending  him  earnestly  as  a  man  of 


Washington,”  Vol.  viii.,  pp.  439  to 
452.  Edition  of  Jared  Sparks. 

38  See  David  Ramsay’s  “  Li/e  of 
George  Washington,”  chap,  ix.,  pp. 
247  to  255. 

39  See  “The  Writings  of  George 
Washington,”  &c.,  Vol.  viii.,  pp. 
491  to  496.  Edition  of  Jared  Sparks. 

40  See  .Judge  Marshall’s  “  Life  of 
George  Washington,”  Vol.  iv.,  chap, 
xii.,  p.  677. 

41  See  David  Ramsay’s  “Life  of 
George  Washington,”  chap,  ix.,  p.  225. 

4"See  M.  Guizot’s  “Vie  Correspon¬ 
dence  et  Ecrits  de  Washington.”  Tome 
ii.,  chap,  xiv.,  pp.  202,  203.  Publics 
d’apres  1’ Edition  Am^ricaine  et  prd- 
cbdes  d’une  Introduction  sur  l’lnfluence 
et  le  Charactere  de  Washington  dans  la 
Revolution  des  Etats-Unis  d’Amerique. 
Paris,  1840.  8vo. 

43  See  Upham’s  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap.  xxi. 


44  The  early  progress  of  religion, 
within  the  United  States,  has  been 
treated  with  great  research  by  John 
Gilmary  Shea,  in  his  “  History  of  the 
Catholic  Missions  amongst  the  Indian 
Tribes  of  the  United  States.”  This 
brings  the  account  from  a.d.  1529, 
to  a.d.  1854,  in  a  second  edition  pub¬ 
lished  at  New  York. 

45  The  “  Discovery  and  Exploration 
of  the  Mississippi  Valley,”  published 
at  New  York,  1853,  8vo.  and  “Early 
Voyages  up  and  down  the  Missis¬ 
sippi,”  published  at  New  York,  1862, 
4to.,  were  edited  by  the  same  previously 
mentioned  accurate  writer ;  as  likewise, 
the  well-known  work  of  the  Jesuit 
Father,  F.  X.  de  Charlevoix,  the  “His¬ 
tory  and  General  Description  of  New 
F ranee.”  This  was  translated  into  Eng¬ 
lish,  by  John  Gilmary  Shea,  with  ex¬ 
tensive  Notes,  and  published  by  him  in 
six  8vo  volumes,  New  York,  1866. 


FORMATION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  CONSTITUTION. 


287 


superior  ability,  a  zealous  priest,  and  a  sincere  patriot.  This  choice 
accorded  entirely  with  the  desires  of  the  American  Catholic  priesthood 
and  people.  Subsequently,  Pope  Pius  VI.  established  the  See  of  Balti¬ 
more,  November  6th  1789,  when  the  Rev.  John  Carroll  became  its 
first  bishop.46  The  growth  of  the  Church,  under  his  able  and  wise 
administration,  was  steadily  progressive  year  by  year,  until  a  hierarchy 
had  been  formed  to  divide  his  labours.47 

The  first  Ambassador  from  the  United  States  to  the  Court  of  St. 
James  was  John  Adams.  He  had  an  audience  with  the  King  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland,  on  the  2nd  of  June  1785.  A  rebellion  against  the 
collection  of  taxes  was  organized  in  Massachusetts,  by  one  Daniel 
Shays — an  ex-captain  in  the  Revolutionary  army — December,  1786. 
After  a  short  but  very  active  campaign,  the  militia  force,  under  General 
Lincoln,  suppressed  that  revolt. 

The  want  of  centralized  action  and  direction  among  the  various 
States,  during  the  war,  had  frequently  produced  confusion  and  failure. 
It  prevented  co-operation  for  the  common  defence,  and  oftentimes  a 
mischievous  division  of  forces  ;  while,  it  was  not  always  possible,  wisely 
to  regulate  commerce  or  finance.48  A  convention  to  form  the  constitu¬ 
tion  of  the  United  States  was  appointed  to  meet  at  Philadelphia,  on 
the  14th  of  May  178 7. 49  Washington  was  unanimously  chosen  as 
President  of  that  Assembly.50  A  document  prepared  by  the  Convention 
was  submitted  to  the  people  for  their  approval.  After  a  thorough  dis¬ 
cussion,  lasting  in  some  of  the  States  for  two  or  three  years,  the 
Federal  Constitution  was  at  last  accepted  by  all.  Some  of  the  members 
opposed  it,  however,  as  giving  too  much  consolidated  power  to  the 
general  government,  and  as  trenching  on  State  Rights.51  After  four 
months’  deliberation,  the  representatives  adopted  and  ratified  that 
Constitution  of  the  United  States,  on  September  17th  1787.  John 
Marshall,  who  became  Chief  Justice  of  the  United  States,  will  ever 
figure  prominently  on  the  roll  of  great  American  statesmen.  He  was 
largely  instrumental  in  framing  that  Constitution.  Marshall  ranks 
high  as  a  jurist  and  as  a  pure  and  noble-minded  man,  while  personally 


46  See  the  “American  Quarterly 
Review,”  Vol.  i.,  No.  i.,  pp.  155, 
156.  Article  by  John  Gilmary  Shea, 
The  Catholic  Church  in  American 
History. 

47  A  most  comprehensive  narrative 
of  ecclesiastical  affairs  from  the  ear¬ 
liest  period,  to  the  year  1866,  is  to  be 
found  in  the  late  John  Gilmary  Shea’s 
magnificently  illustrated  and  learned 
work,  “  A  History  of  the  Catholic 
Church  within  the  Limits  of  the 
United  States  from  the  first  attempted 
Colonization  to  the  present  Time,” 
with  portraits,  views,  maps,  and  fac¬ 
similes.  In  four  Roy.  8vo.  volumes. 
New  York,  1866  to  T892. 


48  See  T.  Coxe’s  “  View  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  from 
authentic  documents,”  1795,  8vo. 

49  The  historic  and  explanatory 
origin  and  progress  of  formation  for 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
is  admirably  and  briefly  furnished 
under  the  Article  so  headed  in  “  The 
Encyclopaedia  Americana,”  Vol.  ii., 
pp.  380  to  386. 

60  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,”  &c.,  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xv., 
p  435. 

51  Among  these  was  the  able  jurist, 
Aldanus  Burke,  a  Member  of  Con¬ 
gress  from  South  Carolina,  1789-1791. 


288 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

he  was  a  remarkable  character.52  The  old  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  was  framed  by  a  Convention  of  Delegates,63  who  resolved  to 
abolish  the  former  articles  of  Association.  If  two-thirds  of  the  States 
gave  their  assent  to  that  form  of  government  agreed  on,  it  was  to 
become  operative  on  the  4th  of  March  1789.54  It  was  adopted  in  1788, 
but  the  Constitution  did  not  come  into  operation  until  the  former 
date.55 

The  several  States  gave  in  their  adhesion  as  follows :  56  in  1787, 
December  7,  Delaware  was  the  first  State  that  accepted  the  constitution  ; 
December  12  Pennsylvania  accepted  the  constitution;  December  18 
New  Jersey  accepted  the  constitution.  In  1788,  January  2,  Georgia 
accepted  the  constitution  ;  January  9  Connecticut  accepted  the  consti¬ 
tution  ;  February  6  Massachusetts  accepted  the  constitution ;  April  28 
Maryland  accepted  the  constitution  ;  May  23  South  Carolina  accepted 
the  constitution;  June  21  New  Hampshire  accepted  the  constitution; 
June  26  Virginia  accepted  the  constitution;  July  26  New  York 
accepted  the  constitution  ;  and  November  21  North  Ca  olina  accepted 
the  constitution.57  North  Carolina  and  Rhode  Island  at  first  opposed 
the  Federation  ;  but,  these  States  finally  acceded — the  former  in 
November  1789,  and  the  latter  in  May  1790. 68  Subsequently  added  to 
the  Union  were  States  formed  at  a  later  period.59  According  to  the 
Constitution,60  the  President  and  Vice-President  cannot  be  chosen  from 


52  His  writings  are  very  valuable, 
as  giving  an  insight  into  the  spirit 
and  intent  of  the  American  Constitu¬ 
tion. 

53  See  “  Debates  in  the  House  of 
Representatives  of  the  United  States, 
during  the  First  Session  of  the  Con¬ 
gress,  Part  I.,  Upon  the  Constitution, 
Powers  of  the  House,  with  respect 
to  Treaties ;  The  Second  Part  upon 
the  subject  of  the  British  Treaty.” 
Published  at  Philadelphia,  and  printed 
for  Benj.  Franklin,  in  the  year 
1796,  in  a  thick  8vo  volume  of  750 
pages. 

54  See  Benjamin  Perley  Poore’s 
“  Federal  and  State  Constitutions.” 

55  The  reader,  who  desires  to  find 
a  very  able  and  impartial  historic 
account  of  the  colonial  formation,  and 
of  the  changes  brought  about  by  the 
War  of  Independence  to  the  estab¬ 
lishment  of  this  confederation,  should 
especially  consult  the  First  Tome  of 
Auguste  Carlier’s  great  work,  “  La 
R^publique  Americaine  Etats-Unis.” 
It  appeared  in  Paris  1890.  Four 
volumes. 

56The  readers  may  find  a  brief  and 
very  exact  historical  synopsis  of  the 
several  States  and  their  respective 


Constitutions,  at  least,  to  the  time  of 
publication,  1885 — in  “  The  Encyclo¬ 
paedia  Americana,”  Vol.  ii.,  pp.  386 
to  391. 

57  See  J.  Morse’s  “  American  Geo¬ 
graphy,  View  of  the  present  state  of 
America ;  with  a  short  History  of 
America  from  1484,  History  of  the 
Early  Colonists,  Articles  of  Freedom 
by  Washington,  Jackson,”  &c.,  1794, 
8vo. 

58  See  Taylor’s  “  New  Views  of  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States,” 
published  at  Washington,  in  1823. 
8  vo. 

59  See  George  Bancroft’s  “  History 
of  the  Formation  of  the  Constitu¬ 
tion,”  in  two  8vo.  volumes,  1882. 

60  The  provisions  and  spirit  of  this 
excellent  system  of  government  are 
well  set  forth  in  an  elaborate  work — 
“  The  American  Commonwealth,”  by 
James  Bryce,  M.P.,  in  three  volumes. 
Vol.  i.  treats  about  the  National 
Government,  Part  i.,  chapters,  xxxv., 
pp.  1  to  538;  Appendix  to  592.  Vol. 
ii.,  Part  ii.,  The  State  Governments:, 
chaps,  xxxvi.  to  lii. ,  pp.  1  to  317 ; 
Part  iii. ,  The  Party  System,  chaps, 
liii.  to  lxxvi.,  pp.  321  to  626.  Ap¬ 
pendix  to  683.  Vol.  iii.,  Part  iv.. 


WASHINGTON  ELECTED  FIRST  PRESIDENT.  289 


the  same  State.  This  negative  proviso  is  a  good  arrangement.  Its 
intent  is  to  strike  at  sectionalism  ;  but  interpreted  in  the  fulness  of  its 
spirit,  it  also  seeks  to  remove  inequalities  of  race  and  religion,  and  to 
unif  y  all  Americans  into  one  people.  Under  the  original  provisions  of 
the  Constitution,  the  person  having  the  second  highest  number  of 
votes  for  President  became  Vice-President,  By  that  arrangement,  two 
men  of  directly  opposite  political  views  might,  and  in  fact  did,  become 
elected  to  the  offices  of  President  and  Vice-President  in  the  same 
adminstration.61  The  President  of  the  United  States  holds  this  office 
for  four  years.  He  must  be  a  native  of  the  United  States,  and  at  least 
he  must  have  attained  thirty-five  years  of  age.  Nor  is  he  elected 
directly  by  the  popular  vote,  but  rather  by  a  College  of  Electors,  chosen 
by  the  people,  in  a  proportionate  ratio  of  divisional  and  indirect 
representation.  Wherefore,  the  President  does  not  hold  the  same  re¬ 
lation  to  the  country  at  large,  that  a  Govenor  does  to  a  State,  which 
he  presides  over  by  a  direct  popular  vote.62 

As  a  temporary  seat  of  Government,  New  York  was  selected,  and 
the  old  City  Hall  in  Wall  Street  was  designed  for  the  use  of  Congress. 
Meantime,  in  January  1789,  electors  were  chosen  to  cast  the  votes  of 
their  respective  States  for  President  and  Vice-President.  George 
Washington  was  unanimously  elected  the  first  President,  and  his  term 
dates  from  this  very  year.  63  John  Adams  was  chosen  .as  Vice-Presi¬ 
dent.  It  was  intended  that  the  new  government  should  have  com¬ 
menced  its  operations  on  the  4th  of  March  ;  but,  from  accidental 
causes,  Charles  Thompson  was  not  able  to  announce  Washington’s 
election  to  him  officially  at  Mount  Vernon,  until  the  14th  of  April 
following.  64  Of  all  the  Presidential  Candidates  from  the  beginning, 
Washington  alone  can  fairly  be  said  to  have  been  the  country’s 
choice,  66  Eleven  candidates  ran  against  him,  among  whom  were  John 


Public  Opinion,  chaps,  Ixxvi.  to 
lxxxvii.,  pp.  3  tc  170;  Part  v.,  Illus¬ 
trations  and  Reflections,  chaps, 
lxxxviii.  tc  xcvii  .  pp  173  tc  363  :  Part 
vi..  Social  Institutions,  chaps  ,  xcviii., 
to  cxvi  ,  pp.  367  tc  386  London; 
Macmillan  and  Cc.,  and  New  York, 
1888.  8vo. 

61  See  the  exhaustive  work  on  this 
subject — Judge  Joseph  Story’s  “  Com¬ 
mentaries  on  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States ;  with  a  preliminary 
View  of  the  Constitutional  History  of 
the  Colonies  and  States  before  the 
Adoption  of  the  Constitution,”  in 
three  Royal  8vo.  volumes,  1833.  He 
also  published  “  A  Familiar  Exposition 
of  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,”  12mo,  1834. 

62  The  work  of  Richard  Hildreth, 
“  History  of  the  United  States  of 
America,”  may  be  consulted  for  further 


information,  on  this  subject,  and  on 
succeeding  events.  Second  series. 
From  the  Adoption  of  the  Federal 
Constitution  to  the  end  of  the  six¬ 
teenth  Congress  1788-1821.  In  three 
Volumes,  8vo.,  the  first  edition  issued 
in  1852,  and  a  revised  one  in  1855. 

63  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,”  &c.,  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xv., 
p.  440. 

M See  David  Ramsay’s  “Life  of  George 
Washington,”  &c.,  chap,  xi.,  p.  298. 

65  It  may  be  observed,  likewise,  that 
subsequently  and  to  1824,  in  most 
cases,  the  Legislatures  of  the  various 
States  chose  the  successive  Presidents. 
The  title  which  was  at  first  conferred 
upon  the  chief  magistrate  of  the  Re¬ 
public  was,  “  His  Highness,  the  Presi¬ 
dent  of  the  United  States  and  Protec¬ 
tor  of  our  Liberties,”  but  after  a  short 
time  it  was  discontinued. 

D 


290  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Adams  and  John  Handcock  ;  and  yet,  of  the  electoral  votes  cast,  which 
were  73  in  all,  Washington  received  69.  Nothing  could  exceed  the 
people’s  joy  throughout  all  the  States,  when  it  was  declared,  that 
Washington  had  been  elected  as  their  first  President.  His  journey 
from  Mount  Vernon  to  New  York  resembled  a  great  triumphal  proces¬ 
sion.  Especially  on  his  arrival  in  the  latter  city  he  was  received  with 
an  enthusiasm  and  emotion,  that  quite  overpowered  the  mastery  of  his 
feelings.  On  the  30th  of  April,  his  inaugural  speech  was  delivered  to 
the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives.  66 

After  matured  deliberation,  the  President  formed  his  executive,  67 
He  resolved  on  nominating  to  offices  the  men  he  deemed  the  most  deserving 
of  consideration,  and  likely  to  promote  the  public  good. 68  For  the 
administration,  Thomas  Jefferson  was  selected  as  Secretary  of  State, 
while  Alexander  Hamilton  became  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  and  he 
managed  the  finances  in  3uch  a  manner,  that  they  were  soon  restored 
to  something  like  order.  Henry  Knox  became  Secretary  of  War. c® 
The  office  of  Attorney-General  was  assigned  to  Edmund  Randolph. 7% 
With  these  able  men,  Washington  administered  the  government  so 
wisely  and  well,  that  he  soon  acquired  the  reputation  of  being  as 
thorough  a  statesman  as  he  had  been  renowned  for  his  generalship,  71 
Before  and  about  this  time,  the  question  concerning  the  abolition  ot 
the  slave  trade  and  regarding  the  emancipation  of  slaves  within  the 
United  States  was  agitated,  and  especially  it  was  advocated  by  the 
Quakers  in  Pennsylvania.  72  In  the  Southern  States,  however,  such 
measures  were  strenuously  opposed.73  The  first  Tariff  Act  was  passed 
by  Congress,  a.d,,  1790. 

Soon  after  the  formation  of  a  Constitution  for  the  United  States,  it 
was  deemed  necessary  to  detach  a  portion  of  territory,  where  the 
general  government  should  be  assembled  for  the  affairs  of  administra¬ 
tion,  As  a  consequence  of  such  direction,  in  1788-89  the  States  of 


66  See  “  The  Speeches.  Addresses, 
and  Messages  of  the  several  Presidents 
of  the  United  States/'  &c.,  pp.  29  to 
34.  Philadelphia,  1825,  8vo. 

67  See  Jared  Sparks’  “Life  of  George 
Washington,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  xvi.,  pp. 
12, 13. 

68  See  David  Ramsey’s  “Life  of 
George  Washington,”  chap,  xi.,  pp. 
318,  319. 

69  In  1794  he  retired  from  this  dig¬ 
nified  post,  and  settlod  with  his  family 
at  Thomastown,  in  Maine.  He  died 
in  the  year  1806. — Peterson. 

70  These  formed  his  cabinet.  See 
John  T.  Morse’s  “  Thomas  Jefferson,” 
chap.  viii.  pp.  96,  97. 

71  On  the  17th  of  April,  1790,  the 


United  States  mourned  for  one,  among 
the  most  illustrious  of  her  patriots, 
Benjamin  Franklin,  who  died  in  the 
eighty-fourth  year  of  his  age.  See 
the  excellent  Life  of  this  great  man, 
chap,  xv.,  p.  350,  in  “The  Works  of 
Benjamin  Franklin,”  edited  by  Jared 
Sparks,  Vol.  i. 

72  They  put  forth  in  print,  “  Case  of 
the  Oppressed  Africans,”  1784,  and 
afterwards  thev  formed  an  association, 
with  a  “  Constitution  of  the  Pennsylva¬ 
nia  Society  for  setting  Negroes  free.” 
Philadelphia,  1788.  Also,  in  Trenton 
was  published  “  A  serious  Address  to 
the  Rulers  of  America,  and  American 
Injustice  in  tolerating  Slavery.”  1788. 

73  See  Ramsay’s  “  Objections  to  the 
Abolition  of  the  Slave  Trade,”  1788, 


Washington's  administration  and  policy.  291 

Maryland  and  Virginia  ceded  a  tract  of  land,  ten  miles  square,  and 
lying  on  both  banks  of  the  river  Potomac.  It  was  at  the  head  of  tidal 
water,  and  160  miles  from  its  mouth.  On  the  17th  of  July  1790, 
President  Washington  signed  a  bill,  to  place  the  seat  of  the  general 
government  in  that  new  District  of  Columbia.  In  1791  a  city  was 
there  laid  out,  and  on  a  grand  scale,  to  become  the  capital  of  the  Union. 
At  first — but  only  for  a  short  while — it  was  denominated  Federal  City. 
Afterwards,  in  compliment  to  the  President  who  selected  the  site,  it 
was  called  Washington, 

With  the  course  of  1790,  the  first  Census  of  the  United  States  was 
taken,  when  it  was  discovered,  that  the  inhabitants  amounted  to 
4,049,600,  and  of  this  number  695,655  were  slaves,  According  to  a 
Report,  famished  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  the  revenue  reached 
4,399,473  dollars,  while  the  exports  amounted  to  over  twenty,  and  the 
imports  to  twenty-three,  millions  of  dollars.74  The  circumstances  of 
the  people  began  to  improve  most  rapidly,  under  the  popular  President 
chosen,  while  a  regular  and  firm  government  was  established. 

The  arrangement  of  finance  had  been  entrusted  to  Colonel  Hamilton, 
and  at  this  time,  the  public  debt  of  the  United  States  had  reached  an 
aggregate  of  54,000,000  dollars.  He  proposed  to  invest  the  whole  of 
that  amount,  with  a  sinking  fund  for  its  gradual  liquidation,  and  to 
make  provision  for  the  payment  of  the  interest.  After  some  opposition, 
this  measure  was  carried.  A  greater  difficulty  was  experienced,  re¬ 
specting  the  general  government  assuming  those  debts  contracted  by 
particular  States.  With  certain  modifications,  and  after  violent  debates 
between  the  Federalists  and  anti-Federalists,  Hamilton’s  plan  passed 
both  Houses.75  New  taxes  had  to  be  imposed,  in  order  to  meet  the 
necessities  of  government.  He  next  projected  the  plan  for  a  national 
bank,  on  which  measure  the  cabinet  was  divided  ;  yet,  on  mature  con¬ 
sideration,  the  President  gave  his  sanction  to  the  bill.  The  imposition 
of  heavy  taxes  and  the  general  financial  scheme  of  Hamilton  soon  ren¬ 
dered  him  very  unpopular.  The  official  and  private  correspondence  of 
Washington,76  while  President  of  the  United  States,  most  thoroughly 
illustrates  his  great  sagacity  and  abilities  for  civil  government.  Having 
a  mind  superior  to  party  influences,  he  mediated  wisely  between  the 
opposing  interests  and  views  that  prevailed  in  his  cabinet.  Especially, 
Jefferson  and  Hamilton  held  very  conflicting  opinions  on  questions  of 
public  policy.  In  politics,  Chief  Justice  Marshall  was  a  Federalist,  and 
he  warmly  defended  the  administration  of  Washington.  One  of  those 
strongly  opposed  to  some  measures  of  Washington’s  government  was 
Pierce  Butler,  Senator  from  South  Carolina.77 


74  See  that  valuable  work,  “  Eighty 
Years’  Progress  of  the  United  States,” 
Vol.  i.  Commerce  of  the  United 
States,  chap,  i.,  p.  144.  New  York, 
1861,  royal  8vo 

75  See  Rev.  H.  Fergus’  “  History  of 
the  Western  World,”  Yol.  ii.  The 


United  States,  chap,  xiii.,  pp.  233  to 
236. 

76  This  may  be  found  in  “  The  Writ¬ 
ings  of  George  Washington,”  See., 
Vol  x.,  xi.,  as  edited  by  Jared  Sparks. 

77  He  was  born  in  Ireland,  11th 
July  1744,  and  he  was  the  third  son 


292 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Towards  the  close  of  the  last  century,  as  the  white  settlers  began  to 
advance  into  the  interior,  beyond  the  boundaries  of  Pennsylvania  and 
New  York,  the  Indian  tribes  became  alarmed  at  their  growing 
numbers,  and  showed  a  disposition  to  prevent  the  progress  of  further 
colonization.78  Many  of  the  emigrants  descending  the  Ohio  River  were 
waylaid  and  murdered.  Reprisals  were  the  natural  consequence. 
Accordingly,  General  Harmer  was  sent  with  a  force  of  about  1,500 
men,  to  prevent  such  outrages,  in  September  1790.  The  service  ren¬ 
dered  on  this  occasion  was  deemed  to  be  very  inefficient ;  and  accord¬ 
ingly,  Washington  obtained  authority  to  embody  2,000  men  to  serve 
for  six  months,  when  they  were  placed  under  General  St.  Clair,  who  was 
governor  of  the  Western  territory.  His  object  was  to  destroy  the 
Miami  settlements,  and  to  expel  the  Indians  from  that  district.  Major- 
General  Butler,  an  Irish  American,  held  the  rank  of  Colonel  in  the 
Continental  army,  and  he  was  joined  in  the  expedition  directed  to¬ 
wards  the  Wabash.  However,  having  encamped  near  their  villages 
with  1,400  men.  and  awaiting  reinforcements,  before  sunrise  on  the  4th 
of  November  1791,  the  troops  were  roused  by  the  Indian  war-cry  and 
taken  by  surprise.  Numbers  of  the  militia  lied,  and  then  the  general 
ordered  a  retreat,  which  was  effected  only  amid  the  greatest  confusion. 
St.  Clair  was  utterly  defeated,  near  the  present  site  of  Port  Wayne  in 
Indiana,  having  sustained  a  loss  of  631  killed,  among  whom  were  37 
officers,  while  263  were  wounded.  During  this  scene  of  disorder,  Major- 
General  Butler  was  tomahawked  and  scalped  by  the  Indians.79 

On  the  4th  of  March  1791,  Vermont,  formed  out  of  the  former  ter¬ 
ritory  of  New  York,  was  admitted  into  the  Union.  For  a  second  terra 


of  Sir  Richard  Butler,  fifth  Baronet, 
and  allied  to  the  Dukes  of  Ormond. 
Before  the  Revolution  he  had  served  in 
the  British  army,  and  after  his  resig¬ 
nation  he  settled  in  Charleston,  S.C. 
He  became  a  delegate  from  that  Col¬ 
ony  in  1787,  and  in  1788  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Convention  that  framed 
the  American  Constitution.  He  ap- 
roved  of  the  war  of  1812,  and  he 
ied  in  Philadelphia,  February  15th 
1822.  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia 
of  American  Biography,”  Vol.  i.,  p.  480. 

78  We  are  informed  by  Hugh  Henry 
Brackenridge,  that  in  1794  the  Mid¬ 
land  States  of  America,  and  the  West¬ 
ern  parts  in  general,  were  half  Ire¬ 
land.  He  had  been  a  chaplain  in 
Washington’s  army,  and  he  was  well 
acquainted  with  the  spirit,  enterprise 
and  bravery  of  the  natives  of  that 
island.  He  was  the  author  of  “  Mod¬ 
ern  Chivalry,”  one  of  the  finest  poli¬ 
tical  satires  America  has  produced. 
He  makes  the  clown  in  his  book  an 
Irishman.  It  was  published  at  Pitts¬ 


burg,  in  1794.  In  the  preface,  he 
writes :  “  It  has  been  asked  why,  in 
writing  this  memoir,  I  have  taken  my 
clown  from  the  Irish  nation?  The 
character  of  the  English  clown  I  did 
not  well  understand ;  nor  could  I 
imitate  their  manner  of  speaking. 
That  of  the  Scotch  I  have  tried,  as 
may  be  seen  in  the  character  of  Dun¬ 
can.  But  I  found  it,  in  my  hands, 
rather  insipid.  The  character  of  the 
Irish  clown,  to  use  the  language  of 
Itosseau,  ‘  has  more  stuff  in  it.’  .  .  . 
The  character  of  the  Irish  clown  will 
not  be  wholly  misunderstood.  It  is 
so  much  known  among  the  emigrants 
here  or  their  descendants,  that  it  will 
not  be  thrown  away.” 

79  Colonel  Thomas  Butler  also  fought 
at  the  defeat  of  St.  Clair,  when  his 
brother  Richard  lost  his  life.  Thomas 
Butler  led  his  battalion  to  a  charge 
of  bayonets,  and  seated  on  horseback, 
after  his  leg  had  been  broken  by  a 
ball.  His  life  was  saved  by  Captain 
Edward  Butler,  also  a  brother. 


wayne’s  victories  over  tiie  Indians.  293 

of  four  years,  in  1793,  although  reluctant  to  continue  in  the  office,  Wash¬ 
ington  was  re-elected  President.80  On  his  re-nomination,  the  total 
electoral  vote  was  increased  by  the  accession  of  new  States  to  1 35  votes, 
of  which  number  Washington  received  132.  By  a  majority  of  votes, 
John  Adams  was  preferred  to  George  Clinton,  his  competitor,  for  the 
Vice-Presidency.81  During  this  administration,  those  Indian  troubles 
in  the  western  and  southern  parts  were  a  source  of  disquiet  to  the 
Government.82  Attempts  had  been  made  to  establish  a  peace  with  the 
tribes  north  of  the  Ohio;  but  the  Miami  and  Wabash  Indians  con¬ 
voked  a  meeting  of  sixteen  nations,  when  it  was  determined  to  accept  no 
terms  short  of  making  that  River  the  boundary  between  them  and  the 
United  States.  General  Wayne  was  now  selected  to  conduct  the  war, 
having  2,600  regulars  and  1,029  mounted  militia  under  his  command. 
When  the  Indian  Chief,  called  Little  Turtle,  heard  that  Wayne  was 
coming,  he  advised  his  people  to  make  peace.  However,  they  would  not 
follow  this  advice,  and  in  the  summer  of  1794,  an  advance  was  made  on 
their  settlements  along  the  Miami  River.  Occupying  a  fortified  post, 
Major  M ‘Mahon83  was  attacked  on  the  7th  of  July,  but  he  successfully 
defended  the  spot,  with  a  loss  of  22  killed  and  30  wounded.  The  Indians 
occupied  Grand  Glaise,  as  their  chief  fort;  but,  on  the  7th  of  August, 
it  was  precipitately  abandoned  when  Wayne  approached.  However,  they 
retired  on  their  main  body,  strongly  entrenched  behind  felled  trees  and 
within  a  thick  wood.  Wayne  ordered  his  troops  to  move  cautiously,  to 
rouse  the  enemy  from  their  covert  with  fixed  bayonets,  and  then  to  fire 
when  they  appeared  or  fled.  The  cavalry  were  sent  round  on  their 
right  and  left  flanks.  By  this  movement,  the  Indians,  dislodged  from 
their  coverts,  were  driven  in  confusion  through  the  woods,  until  they 
found  shelter  under  the  guns  of  the  English  fort.84  Wayne  soon 
destroyed  their  villages  and  drove  the  Red  Men  before  him,  until  he 
reached  the  Maumee  River,  in  the  north-western  parts  of  Ohio.  He  then 
fortified  some  defensive  positions,  while  the  main  body  of  the  Indians 
retired  beyond  his  reach.  But,  the  system  of  short  service  caused  that 
general  to  urge  upon  Congress  the  necessity  for  sending  him  a  force  to 
maintain  a  permanent  peace  on  the  frontiers. 

The  celebrated  political  contests  between  the  Federalists,  favouring 
the  Constitution  as  it  was  and  desiring  a  strong  central  government,  and 
the  Anti-Federalists,  wishing  to  limit  the  powers  of  Congress,  and  to  give 
more  independent  authority  for  the  several  States,  were  vigorously  carried 
on  about  this  time.  The  chief  leaders  of  the  former  party  were 
W ashington,  Adams,  and  Hamilton  ; 85  while  J efferson  was  chief  leader  of 


80  See  Guizot’s  “Vie  de  Washing- 
tion,”  Tome  ii.,chap.  xviii.,  pp.  295 to 299. 

81  See  Rev.  H.  Fergus’  “History  of 
the  Western  World,”  Vol.  ii.,  The 
United  States,  chap,  xiii.,  p.  243. 

82  See  B  S.  Barton’s  “  Origin  of  the 
Tribes  and  Nations  of  America.” 
Philadelphia,  1798,  8vo. 


83  He  was  Irish  by  descent. 

84  See  ‘  The  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1795,  Vol.  xxxvii.,  the  His¬ 
tory  of  Europe,  chap,  viii.,  pp.  144, 
145. 

85  See  Henry  Cabot  Lodge’s  “  Alex¬ 
ander  Hamilton,”  chap,  v.,  vi.,  vii., 
pp.  84  to  152. 


294 


IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


the  Anti-Federalist3,86  also  called  Democrats  or  Republicans — these  two 
latter  names  being  then  used  indiscriminately  to  designate  one  and 
the  same  party.  On  the  2nd  of  April  1792,  the  United  States  Mint 
was  established  at  Philadelphia.  On  the  1st  of  July  1792,  the  State  of 
Kentucky  as  the  fifteenth  was  admitted  into  the  Union.87 

Scarcely  less  exciting  and  interesting  in  America  were  the  scenes  of 
the  French  Revolution,  than  if  they  had  there  a  local  origin.S8  The  fate 
of  King  Louis  XYI.  and  of  Queen  Marie  Antoniette  was  greatly 
lamented,  especially  by  the  Federalists,  many  of  whom  believed  that 
the  principles  of  their  own  republican  institutions  were  now  on  trial 
and  in  danger  of  signal  failure.  The  Anti-Federalists  strongly  sympa¬ 
thised  with  the  French  revolutionary  party,  and  even  wished  to  aid 
them  against  the  coalition  of  European  powers.  The  favourers  of 
Washington  and  the  Federalists,  however,  insisted  on  observing  a  strict 
neutrality.89  As  a  minister  from  the  French  Republic,  Citizen  Genest 
arrived  in  America  April  1793,  when  the  Jeffersonian  party  manifested 
extraordinary  rejoicings  for  that  representative,  and  organised  public 
receptions  to  honour  him.90  The  revolutionary  tri-colour  was  worn  by 
crowds  of  people.  Such  encouragement  induced  that  over-zealous 
ambassador  to  fit  out  privateers  in  the  American  ports.  Even  his  inso¬ 
lence  was  carried  so  far,  that  he  violently  inveighed  against  the  President’s 
peaceful  inclinations.  He  conducted  himself  with  such  impropriety, 
that  at  length  Washington  requested  the  French  Government  to  recall 
him.91  This  demand  was  reluctantly  complied  with  ;  but  in  turn,  when 
his  successor  Fauchet  arrived,  in  February  1794,  the  French  Republic 
requested  the  recall  of  Governor  Morris,  the  American  Minister  in  Paris, 
who  did  not  sympathise  with  the  extreme  revolutionists.  To  promote 
a  better  understanding  between  their  governments,  Washington  sent 
James  Monroe,  a  Virginian  Senator,  who  became  too  ardently  attached 
to  the  revolutionary  principles,  and  who  desired  to  identify  the  cause  and 
interests  of  both  republics.92 

Notwithstanding  the  clear  terms  of  the  treaty  in  1783,  through 
various  pretexts  the  British  kept  possession  of  forts  in  the  north¬ 
western  territories.  Moreover,  they  insisted  on  a  right  of  search  to 


86  See  George  Tucker’s  “  Life  of 
Thomas  Jefferson,”  2  vols.,  London, 
1837.  8vo. 

87  See  L.  De  Colange’s  “  National 
Gazetteeer,”  &c.,  p.  528. 

88  For  the  causes  and  results  of  this 
great  turning  event  in  modern  Euro¬ 
pean  history,  the  reader  is  referred 
to  M.  A.  Thiers’  “  Histoire  de  la 
Revolution  Francaise,”  in  ten  Tomes, 
Paris,  1836,  et  seq.  8vo.  For  very 
different  views  on  this  subject,  the 
reader  may  consult  Sir  Archibald 
Alison’s  “  History  of  Europe,”  1789- 
1815,  in  ten  volumes.  Edinburgh, 
1883  to  1842,  8vo. 


89  See  David  Ramsay’s  “  Life  of 
George  Washington,”  chap,  xii.,  p. 
330. 

90  See  John  Alphonsus’  “  History  of 
Europe,”  &c.,  Vol.  v.,  chap,  lxxxiv., 
pp.  511  to  517. 

91  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,”  &c.,  Vol.  ii.,  chap, 
xviii.,  pp.  49  to  53 

92  See  “  The  Annual  Register,”  for 
the  year  1796,  Yol.  xxxviii.,  chap, 
xi.,  pp.  171  to  174.  Also,  “Histoire 
de  France  depuis  1789  jusqu’  a  nos 
Jours,”  par  Henri  Martin,  Tome  iii., 
chap,  i.,  pp.  21,  22.  Paris,  1787, 
et  seq.,  8vo. 


RECALL  OP  MUNROE. 


295 


confiscate  French  property  found  on  board  of  American  vessels,  while 
they  claimed  all  sailors,  supposed  to  have  been  at  any  time  British 
subjects.  Even  those  who  had  been  naturalised  in  the  United 
States  were  not  spared,  for  the  absurd  doctrine  was  sought  to  be 
maintained,  “  once  a  born  subject  always  a  subject.”  Besides,  native 
Americans  had  been  carried  away  and  compelled  to  serve  in  the 
British  fleet.93  Such  proceedings  naturally  created  great  dis¬ 
content,  and  even  a  strong  disposition  was  manifested  among 
the  people  for  a  declaration  of  war  against  Great  Britain.  How¬ 
ever,  the  Cabinet  of  Washington  sought  to  arrange  this  dispute ;  and 
accordingly,  John  Jay  was  sent  as  a  special  envoy  to  London.94  After 
a  long  discussion,  it  was  agreed,  that  the  western  posts  should  be  surren¬ 
dered  by  the  1st  of  June  1796. 95  With  some  difficulty,  an  unsatisfactory 
settlement  was  arrived  at,  and  on  the  13th  November  1794,  a  treaty 
was  ratified.  The  impressment  of  seamen  was  a  question  left  unsettled, 
while  the  orders  in  council,  afterwards  issued,  caused  great  injury  to 
American  commerce. 

A  most  commanding  site  for  the  building  having  been  granted,  in 
the  newly-laid  out  city  of  Washington,  by  Daniel  Carroll,  the  corner¬ 
stone  of  the  capitol  was  accordingly  laid,  September  18th  1793.  An 
excise  tax  had  been  imposed  on  whiskey,  and  it  became  so  unpopular 
in  Western  Pennsylvania,  that  secret  societies  were  organized  to 
resist  the  collection  of  whiskey  duties.  In  1794  the  officers  of  the  law 
were  attacked,  and  formidable  riots  took  place.  However,  the  President 
called  out  15,000  of  the  militia  from  Pennsylvania  and  from  other 
States.  That  insurrection,  after  causing  some  alarm,  was  speedily 
quelled. 

When  Washington  had  signed  the  treaty  with  England,  his  policy 
was  to  observe  an  attitude  of  neutrality  in  the  war  between  that  power 
and  France.  Great  resentment  was  then  felt  and  expressed,  not  alone 
by  the  French  ambassador  Fauchet  and  his  government,  but  by  their 
partisans  in  the  United  States,  while  the  American  ambassador  in  Paris 
was  inclined  to  favour  such  sentiments.  In  a  spirit  hostile  to  American 
commerce,  the  French  government  issued  orders  for  the  capture  of  vessels 
carrying  provisions  to  any  British  port.  In  consequence  of  this  man¬ 
date,  extensive  depredations  took  place  at  sea.  The  President  then 
found  it  necessary  to  recall  Monroe;  still,  he  judged  it  prudent  to  select 
as  his  successor  a  tried  friend  of  liberty,  Mr  Pinkney  of  South  Carolina, 
who  had  not  appeared  in  any  of  those  measures  disapproved  by  France, 
When  Monroe  and  Pinkney  waited  on  the  French  minister  with  their 
letters  of  recall  and  credence,  they  were  both  treated  with  marked 
coldness.  At  length  came  a  mandate  from  the  Directory,  that  Mr. 


93  More  than  500  American  vessels 
had  been  subjected  to  this  violence  by 
the  English  cruisers.  See  M.  A. 
Thiers’  “  Histoire  de  la  Revolution 
Francaise,”  Tome  vi.,  chap,  xx.,  p. 
39. 


94  See  General  Washington’s  “Epis¬ 
tles,  Domestic,  Confidential,  and  Offi¬ 
cial.”  New  York,  1796,  8vo. 

95  See  Hugh  Murray’s  “  United 
States  of  America,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap, 
iii. ,  pp.  154,  155. 


296  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Pinkney  should  leave  Prance,  and  accordingly  he  repaired  to  the 
Hague,96 

All  the  great  personal  influence  of  Washington  could  not  allay  the 
dissensions  in  his  cabinet.  For  Hamilton’s  integrity  of  character  and 
talents  the  President  had  a  high  esteem,  while  appreciating  his  judg¬ 
ment  and  sagacity  on  most  matters  of  public  policy.  He  also  enter¬ 
tained  a  sincere  affection  for  and  friendly  intercourse  with  that  able 
and  accomplished  man.  Moreover,  he  endeavoured  to  persuade  Jefferson 
that  any  public  collision  with  his  political  rival  should  be  avoided. 
However,  the  Democratic  party  and  press  indulged  in  calumnious 
invectives  against  the  Federal  minister,  and  these  accusations  were 
reproduced  in  the  House  of  Representatives.  He  was  charged  with 
being  ambitious,  intriguing  and  despotic.  On  the  1st  of  January  1795, 
Alexander  Hamilton  resigned  his  office  as  Secretary  of  the  Treasury, 
and  private  affairs  then  obliged  him  to  resume  the  exercise  of  his  legal 
profession.97  On  June  1st  1796,  the  State  of  Tennessee  was  admitted 
into  the  Union.98 

Towards  the  close  of  that  year,99  declining  to  hold  office  for  a  third 
term,  Washington  met  the  legislature  His  previous  messages  and 
speeches100  were  always  received  with  that  respectful  attention,  which 
they  so  well  deserved  ;  but  this  was  an  occasion,  when  the  members  of 
Congress  manifested  an  emotion  that  could  not  be  repressed.  The  cele¬ 
brated  Farewell  Address  of  Washington,  issued  on  the  15th  of  Sep¬ 
tember,101  was  published,  and  in  it  was  announced  his  determination  to 
abandon  public  cares,  and  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  the 
privacy  of  domestic  life.  In  that  manifesto,  he  admonished  the  people 
to  preserve  union  and  to  quell  every  attempt  to  promote  sectional  dis¬ 
sension.  Therein  he  recommended  to  Congress  likewise  those  mea¬ 
sures102  which  he  thought  essential  for  securing  national  honour,  inde¬ 
pendence  and  prosperity.103  Soon  afterwards,  the  whole  country  seemed 
to  realize  the  true  greatness  of  his  character.  On  the  occasion  of  his 
retirement,  the  members  of  Congress  and  of  the  different  State  Legis- 


9*See  Justin  Winsor’s  “Narrative 
and  Critical  History  of  America,” 
Vol.  vii.,  pp.  464  to  467,  and  517. 

97  A  long  interval  elapsed  after 
death  before  his  son  John  C.  Hamil¬ 
ton  published  “  The  Life  and  Writ¬ 
ings  of  Alexander  Hamilton,”  in 
1851. 

98  See  L.  De  Colange’s  “  National 
Gazetteer,”  &c.,  p.  988. 

99  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  xix., 
p.  78. 

100  These,  with  his  Proclamation  as 
President,  and  his  replies  to  various 
public  Addresses,  are  printed  in  “  The 
Writings  of  George  Washington,” 


&c.,  Vol.  xii.,  as  edited  by  Jared 
Sparks. 

101  See  Jared  Sparks’  “  Life  of  George 
Washington,”  &c.,  Vol.  ii.,  chap, 
xix.,  pp.  77,  78.  The  text  of  his 
Address  is  to  be  found  in  the  Ap¬ 
pendix,  pp.  317  to  338. 

102  See  “  Speeches,  Addresses,  and 
Messages  of  the  several  Presidents  of 
the  United  States,  Declaration  of  In¬ 
dependence,  Washington’s  Farewell 
Address,”  &c.,  Printed  at  Philadel¬ 
phia,  in  1825. 

103  The  legislation  of  the  earlier 
sessions  of  Congress  may  be  found  in 
“  Laws  of  the  United  States  of  Ameri¬ 
ca,”  published  in  Philadelphia,  1796, 
in  three  volumes,  8vo. 


DIFFERENCES  WITH  OTHER  POWERS. 


297 


latures  prepared  suitable  addresses  and  resolutions.  When  he  left  the 
capital  at  the  close  of  his  term,  on  the  4th  of  March  1797,  a  vast  mul¬ 
titude  pressed  around  him  in  the  streets,  while  manifesting  every  pos¬ 
sible  mark  of  affection  and  respect.  From  his  door,  he  turned  to  say 
farewell,  but  his  eyes  filled  with  tears,  and  silent  gestures  alone  gave 
expression  to  the  intensity  of  his  feelings. 

The  federal  candidate  John  Adams,  who  was  the  next  President 
in  succession  to  Washington,  and  his  intimate  friend,  received  71 
electoral  votes  out  of  a  total  of  138.  Thomas  Jefferson,  who  was  the 
Democrat  candidate  in  opposition,  failed  by  four  votes  to  secure 
a  majority ; 104  but  as  the  Constitution  then  stood,  he  became 
Vice-President,  although  strongly  opposed  to  the  general  policy 
of  that  government  of  which  he  formed  a  part.105  On  the  4th 
of  March,  1797,  Washington  assisted  at  the  inauguration  of  his 
successor  as  President,106  who  on  that  occasion  delivered  his  Inaugural 
Address.107 

For  some  time  the  United  States  had  been  successively  embroiled 
with  England,  Spain  and  France.108  The  misunderstanding  between 
the  United  States  and  Spain  chiefly  originated  about  the  interpretation 
of  the  former  peace  treaty,  as  to  the  American  right  claimed  for  navi¬ 
gation  of  the  Mississippi  River  to  the  sea,  all  the  Louisiana  Territory 
being  then  under  Spanish  rule,  as  also  respecting  the  exact  boundaries 
of  Florida.  American  vessels  attempting  to  descend  the  Mississippi  to 
New  Orleans  were  seized  and  forfeited.  Attempts  were  made  to  open 
negotiations  in  1793,  but  the  views  of  the  negotiators  proved  to  be 
widely  divergent.  Notwithstanding,  on  the  27th  of  October  1795,  a 
Treaty  with  Spain  was  at  last  signed.109 

Meantime,  a  great  ferment  had  been  excited  throughout  the  United 
States,  on  learning  the  indignity  with  which  their  ambassador  had  been 
treated  in  Paris  The  President  Mr.  Adams  issued  a  spirited  message 
on  the  16th  of  May  1797.  In  this,  he  commented  severely  on  the 
action  of  the  French  Government,  while  he  recommended  the  augmen¬ 
tation  of  the  sea  and  land  forces.  However,  a  commission  was  appointed 
for  purposes  of  negotiation,  when  Marshall,  Gerry  and  Pinkney  were 
engaged  to  conduct  it.  The  French  Foreign  Minister  was  Tallyrand, 
who  intimated  through  his  agents,  that  a  loan  amounting  to  £1,200,000 
for  the  Directory,  with  a  douceur  amounting  to  £50,000  for  their  joint 


,04  See  “  The  Annual  Register,”  for 
the  year  1796,  Vol.  xxxviii.  History 
of  Europe,  chap,  xiii.,  p.  208. 

105  This  able  statesman,  while  Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States,  wrote 
a  remarkable  work,  “  A  Defence  of  the 
Constitutions  of  Government  of  the 
United  States  of  America.”  It  ap¬ 
peared  at  London,  1794,  in  Three 
Volumes,  8vo.  A  portrait  of  the 
writer  is  prefixed. 

106  See  “  The  Speeches,  Addresses, 


and  Messages  of  the  several  Presi¬ 
dents  of  the  United  States,”  &c.,  pp. 
116  to  124, 

107  See  Henry  Cabot  Lodge’s 
“  George  Washington,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap, 
vi.,  pp.  270,  271. 

10s  See  Jared  Sparks’  “Life  of 
Geo-ge  Washington,”  &c.,  Vol.  ii., 
chf.p.  xvii.,  pp.  26  to  28. 

,Jv  See  Justin  Winsor’s  “  Narrative 
and  Critical  History  of  America,” 
Vol.  vi i ,  pp.  476,  477. 


298  IRISH-AM SRICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

use,  should  guarantee  the  settlement  of  the  American  claims.110  These 
terms  were  refused.  Moreover,  <an  the  18th  of  January  1798,  a  law  was 
passed  by  the  French  Government  subjecting  to  capture  every  vessel, 
which  should  contain  any  article  of  British  fabricor  produce.  When  these 
transactions  became  known  in  the  United  States,  public  feeling  was 
greatly  excited,  and  Congress  authorised  an  augmentation  of  the  naval 
and  military  forces.  W  hen  war  with  France  was  apprehended,  General 
Washington  was  called  from  his  retirement,  and  again  assumed  com¬ 
mand  of  the  army.111  He  chose  Alexander  Hamilton  as  his  second  to 
conduct  the  operations  of  that  anticipated  war.  Hostilities  had  even 
commenced  at  sea,  Commodore  Truxton  of  the  Constellation,  mounting 
38  guns,  having  captured  the  French  L’Insurgent  of  50  guns.  These 
differences — which  at  first  seemed  so  threatening,112  were  happily  adjusted 
however,  and  in  favour  of  the  New  Republic,  as  Tallyrand  had  dis¬ 
avowed  his  agents,  and  now  expressed  the  strongest  wish  for  peace.113 
On  receiving  this  intimation,  the  President  prepared  a  new  commission, 
comprising  Oliver  Ellsworth  Chief  Justice,  and  Mr.  Murray,  who 
accordingly  proceeded  to  Paris,  in  order  to  treat  with  the  French 
Government.114 

Towards  the  close  of  the  last  year  of  the  last  century,  being  out  of 
doors  and  superintending  his  farm,  the  illustrious  Washington  had  con¬ 
tracted  a  cold,  and  it  almost  immediately  produced  inflammation  of  the 
throat.115  This  attack  proved  fatal,  after  a  very  brief  illness.  On  the 
14th  of  December,  he  calmly  expired  in  his  house  at  Mount  Vernon. 
Intelligence  of  his  death  having  reached  Congress,  the  members  instantly 
adjourned  until  the  next  day.  When  re-assembled,  John  Marshall, 
then  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  subsequently  Chief 
Justice  of  the  United  States,  addressed  the  Speaker  in  eloquent  terms, 
and  moved  resolutions  of  condolence.  The  Senate,  in  like  manner, 
expressed  deep  regret  in  an  address  to  the  President  John  Adaras.  To 
this  he  replied  in  words  of  warm  eulogy  and  profound  emotion. 116  When 
this  news  was  publicly  announced,  universal  mourning  overspread  the 
land.  The  Congress,  then  in  session  at  Philadelphia,  did  special  honour 


110  See  “Official  Correspondence  be¬ 
tween  the  Envoys  of  the  American 
States  and  Mons.  Tallyrand,  on  the 
Subject  of  the  Disputes  between  the 
Two  Countries,”  1798. 

111  See  Rev.  H.  Fergus’  “  History 
of  the  Western  World,”  Vol.  ii.,  The 
United  States,  chap,  xiv.,  pp.  263, 
264. 

112  See  “  A  Speech  of  R.  Harper, 
delivered  in  the  House  of  Represen¬ 
tatives  of  the  United  States,  a.d. 
1798.” 

113  On  this  subject  the  reader  may 
find  much  information  in  a  work  re¬ 
cently  published,  “  Correspondence 
Diplomatique  de  Tallyrand.”  Le 


Ministere  de  Talleyrand  sous  le 
Directoire,  avec  Introduction  et  Notes 
par  C.  Pallain.  No.  xxvii.,  pp.  302 
to  310.  Paris,  1891,  8vo. 

114  See  William  Henry  Trescott’s 
“  Diplomatic  History  of  the  Admini¬ 
strations  of  Washington  and  Adams, 
1789-1801.”  Boston,  12mo. 

115  See  Henry  Cabot  Lodge’s 
“George  Washington,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap, 
vi.,  pp.  293  to  298. 

116  See  David  Ramsay’s  “  Life  of 
George  Washington,”  &c.,  Vol.  viii., 
chap,  xiii-,  pp.  405  to  412.  An  Ap¬ 
pendix  to  this  work  contains  the  will 
of  General  Washington. 


SEAT  OF  GOVERNMENT  TRANSFERRED  TO  WASHINGTON.  299 

to  Washington’s  memory.117  Not  alone  in  the  United  States,  bnt 
throughout  Europe,  all  friends  of  liberty,  and  all  who  could  appreciate 
true  nobility  of  character,  joined  in  regret  when  they  heard  of  his  death. 
In  France,  Napoleon  Buonaparte  as  First  Consul  and  the  Republic 
decreed  extraordinary  honours,  ordering  black  crepe  to  be  placed  for 
ten  days  on  all  the  regimental  colours,  and  a  great  ceremonial  to  take 
place,  with  a  funeral  oration  in  the  church  of  the  Invalids,  at  Paris.118 
In  no  other  country  was  his  death  more  lamented  than  in  Ireland,  where 
the  people  at  large  so  greatly  admired  the  career  of  that  illustrious  man, 
and  the  struggle  for  freedom,  in  which  he  had  been  so  long  and  so 
devotedly  engaged. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


The  Seat  of  Government  transferred  to  Washington — Election  of  Thomas  Jeffer¬ 
son  as  President — Treaty  between  France  and  the  United  States — Cession  of 
Louisiana — War  waged  against  the  States  of  Barbary — Re-election  of  Jeffer¬ 
son  as  President — Aaron  Burr’s  Conspiracy — Peace  proclaimed  between  the 
United  States  and  Tripoli — Injuries  inflicted  on  American  Commerce  by 
France  and  England — Outrage  on  the  Ship  of  War  Chesapeake — Public  Ex¬ 
citement  against  England — Failure  of  Negotiations  to  effect  Peace — Indian 
Troubles  in  the  North-West— Subsequent  Events. 

In  the  year  1800,  the  chief  seat  of  Government  in  the  United  States  was 
removed  from  Philadelphia  and  placed  in  the  newly-founded  city 
called  Washington,  after  the  illustrious  chief  and  first  President  of  the 
Republic.  The  original  Capitol,  although  in  a  good  style  of  building 
and  imposing  in  appearance,  was  erected  chiefly  with  white  freestone, 
and  covering  an  area  of  more  than  an  acre,1  having  five  wide  avenues 
radiating  from  the  public  garden  surrounding  it,  and  intersecting  other 
streets.  With  its  two  wings,  each  100  feet  in  front,  the  building  was 
362  feet  in  length,  having  an  average  depth  of  121  feet,  projections  on 
the  main  front,2  inclusive  of  the  steps,  being  65  feet,  with  a  portico  of 
twenty-two  Corinthian  columns,  and  on  the  rere  83  feet  with  a  like  portico 


1,7  See  Jared  Sparks’  “Life  oS 
George  Washington,”  &c.,  Vol.  ii., 
chap,  xix.,  pp.  92  to  94. 

118  See  M,  A.  Thiers’  “Histoire  du 
Cunsulat  et  de  l’Empire,”  Tome  i., 
Liv.  ii.,  pp.  217  to  221. 

1  In  many  of  the  old  Histories  and 
Geographies  published  in  the  United 
States,  engravings  of  the  original 
structure  may  be  seen,  and  thus  its 


appearance  may  be  contrasted  with 
the  building  as  it  now  stands. 

2  This  looks  towards  the  east,  and 
especially  during  the  sunshine  days  of 
Summer  and  Autumn,  the  Capitol  ap¬ 
pears  with  dazzling  splendour  on  that 
side  until  noon  ;  then,  after  full  illu¬ 
mination  of  the  southern  wing,  the 
setting  sun  sheds  its  brilliance  on  the 
western  wing. 


300  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


supported  by  ten  columns.3  The  main  building  was  surmounted  by  a 
plain  dome,  120  feet  in  height,  with  two  subordinate  domes  of  much 
smaller  size  surmounting  the  wings,  Before  the  late  Confederate  War, 
however,  a  design  for  extending  and  remodelling  the  whole  was  approved 
by  Congress,  and  harmonising  with  the  architectural  style  of  the  former 
structure.  Two  additional  wings  were  destined  for  the  modern  termina¬ 
tions,  each  having  a  frontage  of  238  feet,  with  a  depth  of  143  feet, 
exclusive  of  porticos  and  steps.  Corridors  44  feet  long  by  50  feet  wide 
connect  the  new  wings  with  the  former  buiding.  A  solid  and  grand 
basement  platform,  ascended  by  a  number  of  steps  included,  gives  a 
length  of  751  feet  to  the  entire  structure,4  the  later  additions  being  of 
white  marble.  The  projections  and  porticos  upon  all  the  disconnected 
sides  produce  a  most  elegant  composition,  but  hardly  in  very  perfect 
proportion  with  the  original  noble  edifice.  The  old  dome  has  been 
removed,  and  a  new  one  most  exquisitely  designed,  combining  lightness 
and  elegance  with  solidity,  has  been  erected  in  its  stead.  At  present, 
the  Capitol  at  Washington  far  surpasses  in  size  and  grandeur  any  civic 
building  in  the  world.  5 

In  the  year  1800,  Adams  was  again  proposed  for  President,  as  the 
Federal  candidate ;  but,  the  opposition  interest  then  prevailed,  and  he 
only  obtained  65  votes.  6  In  this  fourth  Presidential  contest,  the 
Democratic  candidates  Thomas  Jefferson  7  and  a  political  adventurer  of 
doubtful  character,  8  Aaron  Burr,  received  73  votes  each.  The  result 
being  a  tie,  the  choice  of  President  devolved  upon  the  House  of  Repre¬ 
sentatives,  which,  after  thirty-five  equal  ballotings,  at  last  elected 
Jefferson  by  a  single  vote  of  majority — Delaware  and  North  Carolina 


3  See  “  Gazetteer  of  the  World,” 
Vol.  xiv.,  p.  441. 

4  It  now  covers  an  area  on  the 
ground  of  153,112  superficial  feet,  or 
Over  three  and  a  half  acres. 

6  This  is  the  deliberate  opinion  of 
the  present  writer,  who  has  seen  most 
of  the  chief  cities  in  Europe,  and  who 
during  a  late  visit  to  Washington 
and  the  United  States,  had  been 
afforded  opportunities  for  inspection 
and  comparison.  The  interior  cham¬ 
bers  and  halls  of  the  Capitol  are  at 
present  receiving  decoration,  from 
several  accomplished  artists ;  fresco 
paintings  of  varitijis  great  na¬ 
tional  and  historic  events  be¬ 
ing  embellishments  for  the  walls, 
while  numerous  grand  marble 
statues  of  the  distinguished  heroes 
and  statesmen  of  the  Republic 
are  in  course  of  preparation  by  emi¬ 
nent  sculptors,  and  are  being  placed 
in  position  in  the  rotunday  and  pas¬ 
sages.  Liberal  sums  of  public  money 


are  annually  voted  by  Congress  to 
effect  such  improvements. 

6  “The  Life  and  Works  of  John 
Adams,”  edited  by  C.  F.  Adams,  ap¬ 
peared  in  Ten  8vo  Volumes,  Boston, 
1850  to  1856. 

1  tte  obtain  the  most  authentic  ac¬ 
count  of  this  illustrious  man,  with 
many  most  important  details  of 
United  States  history  during  his 
time,  from  the  work  edited  by  his 
relative,  Thomas  Jefferson  Randolph, 
and  intituled  “  Memoirs,  Correspond¬ 
ence,  and  Private  Papers  of  Thomas 
Jefferson,  Late  President  of  the 
United  States,”  now  first  published 
from  the  Original  Manuscripts,”  in 
Four  Vols.,  8vo.  London,,  1829. 

8  “  Memoirs  of  Aaron  Burr,  with 
Selection  from  his  Correspondence,” 
were  edited,  in  two  volumes,  by 
Matthew  L.  Davis,  and  published  in 
New  York,  1837,  1838,  as  also  his 
Private  Journal  during  his  residence 
abroad,  with  Selections  from  his 
Correspondence,  in  two  volumes  1838. 


CESSION  OF  LOUISIANA. 


301 


not  voting.  Aaron  Burr  then  became  Vice-President.  The  great 
abilities  of  Jefferson  were  exercised  in  promoting  extreme  democratic 
principles,  and  in  the  reduction  of  the  large  military  and  naval  estab¬ 
lishment,  formed  by  his  predecessor  for  the  national  defence.  This  aLo 
enabled  him  to  reduce  taxation,  and  it  tended  to  make  his  administra¬ 
tion  highly  popular. 9  The  second  Census  of  the  United  States,  in  1800, 
reached  to  the  number  of  5,308,483  souls, 10  while  the  revenue  had 
increased  to  12,945,000  dollars. 

When  the  United  States  Commissioners  arrived  in  Paris,  these 
found  the  French  Directory  overthrown,  and  the  Consulate  established, 
Napoleon  Buonaparte  exercising  supreme  power  as  First  Consul.  The 
latter  then  had  reason  to  apprehend  an  approaching  war  with  Great 
Britain.  He  desired  to  arrange  matters  with  them,  so  as  to  avoid  hos¬ 
tilities  with  the  Americans.  On  the  30th  of  September  1800,  the  United 
States  formulated  a  treaty  with  the  French  Government.  The  injurious 
decrees  were  revoked,  and  a  liberal  compensation  was  stipulated  for 
depredations  perpetrated  on  American  commerce.  At  length,  a  satis¬ 
factory  treaty  was  signed,  on  the  31st  July  1801.  On  the  16tli  of  March 
1802,  a  Military  Academy  was  founded  at  West  Point  on  the  Hudson 
River,  and  some  miles  northward  from  the  city  of  New  York.  On  the  1 9th 
of  February  1803,  Ohio  was  admitted  as  a  New  State  into  the  Union. 11 

After  a  long  contest  in  which  France  had  been  engaged  against 
some  of  the  chief  European  Powers,  towards  the  close  of  1801  a  general 
peace  was  proclaimed.12  In  the  following  year,  Spain  ceded  Louisiana 
by  treaty  to  the  French  Republic.  However,  a  rupture  in  the  pacific 
relations  between  England  and  France  had  again  occurred ;  and 
Napoleon  Buonaparte,  then  First  Consul,  finding  himself  about  to  en¬ 
gage  again  in  war,  knew  that  he  could  not  defend  the  distant  Territory 
of  Louisiana  from  being  seized  upon  by  Great  Britain,  then  having  com¬ 
plete  command  of  the  seas.  Negotiations  soon  passed  between  himself 
and  Jefferson,  when  it  was  arranged,  that  15,000,000  dollars  should  be 
paid  as  the  purchase  for  this  vast  tract  of  country  by  the  United  States. 
Moreover,  one  quarter  of  that  sum  was  designed  to  indemnify  American 
citizens  for  claims  against  France.  Accordingly,  on  the  30th  of  April 
1803, 13  by  Treaty  France  ceded  that  vast  Territory  of  Louisiana,14  and 
on  those  conditions  which  were  mutually  advantageous.15  This  purchase 
included  all  those  regions  west  of  the  Mississippi  River,  and  not  then 
under  Spanish  dominion.  Towards  the  close  of  that  year,  formal  pos¬ 
session  of  Louisiana  was  transferred  to  the  United  States.16 


9  See  John  T.  Morse’s  “  Thomas 
Jefferson,”  chap,  xiii.,  xiv. 

10  See  the  “  Encyclopaedia  Ameri¬ 
cana,”  Yol.  i.,  p.  768. 

"See  Dr.  L.  De  Colanrre’s  “Nati¬ 
onal  Gazetteer,”  &c.,  p.  745. 

12  See  M.  A.  Thiers'  “  Histoire  du 
Consulat  et  de  l’Empire.”  Tome  iii., 
Liv.  xi. 

13  See  “  The  Annual  Register  ”  for 


the  year  1803,  Vol.  xlv.,  History  of 
Europe,  p.  338. 

14  It  is  said  to  have  comprised 
933,928  square  miles. 

15  See  Barbe-Marbois  “Histoire  de 
la  Louisiane  et  de  la  Cession  de  cette 
Colonie  par  la  France  aux  Etats-Unis 
de  l’Amerique  septentrionale.”  Paris, 
1829,  8vo. 

16  See  Justin  Winsor’s  “Narrative 


mm 


302  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

To  secure  immunity  for  their  commerce,  the  great  powers  of  Europe, 
as  well  as  the  United  States,  had  been  accustomed  to  pay  tribute  to  the 
Barbary  States,  Tunis,  Tripoli,  Algiers  and  Morocco.  Their  piratical 
vessels  swarmed  on  the  seas,  captured  several  ships,  and  reduced  their 
seamen  to  a  state  of  slavery.  Such  condition  of  affairs  continued  to  the 
beginning  of  the  late  century.  The  Bey  of  Tunis  had  demanded  addi¬ 
tional  presents  from  the  United  States.  This  was  now  refused,  and  it 
was  resolved  instead,  to  equip  an  American  squadron  and  to  send  it 
against  the  Corsairs.  Accordingly,  in  March  1801,  Congress  declared 
war  against  Tripoli,  which  State  had  already  taken  the  initiative,  by 
threatening  to  blockade  American  ships  in  the  Mediterranean.  A  des¬ 
perate  engagement  at  sea  between  the  Enterprise  of  fourteen  guns, 
Captain  Sterrett,17  and  a  Tripolian  ship  of  equal  force,  continued  for 
three  hours  and  a  half,  when  the  latter  struck  her  flag,  with  a  loss  of 
fifty  killed  and  wounded.18 

In  1803,  Commodore  Preble19  was  sent  to  the  Mediterranean  in 
command  of  a  squadron,  with  which,  having  menaced  Tangier,  he  first 
humbled  the  Emperor  of  Morocco,  and  forced  him  to  make  terms. 
Then  his  attention  was  directed  to  Tripoli.  However,  Captain  Bain- 
bridge,  in  the  Philadelphia,  ran  upon  a  sunken  rock  while  recon 
noitring  that  harbour,  and  not  being  able  to  get  his  frigate  off,  he  was 
forced  to  surrender,  October  31st.  His  men  were  all  reduced  to 
slavery,  while  the  officers  were  held  for  ransom.  Somewhat  later, 
Lieutenant  Stephen  Decatur  entered  the  harbour  of  Tripoli  in  a  small 
schooner.  With  seventy  picked  men,  he  boarded  the  captured  frigate, 
and  drove  off  the  Tripolitan  crew.  Having  then  set  the  vessel  on  fire, 
he  sailed  out  under  the  guns  of  the  city  without  losing  a  single  man.20 
For  this  gallant  action,  he  was  promoted  to  be  a  captain.21  In  the 
achievement  of  this  enterprise,  Captain  Stewart22  of  the  Syren  rendered 
the  most  effective  aid. 


and  Critical  History  of  America,” 
Vol.  vii.,  pp.  478  to  480. 

17  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  v.,  p. 
667. 

18  See  James  Fenimore  Cooper’s 
“  Histoiy  of  the  Navy  of  the  United 
States  of  America,”  Vol.  i.,  chap, 
xviii.,  pp.  411,  412.  London  edition, 
1839,  8vo. 

19  See  Appleton’s  “Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  v.,  pp. 
104,  105. 

20  See  “The  American  Navy,  its 
Ships  and  their  Achievements,”  by 
Charles  Morris,  chap,  ii.,  pp.  38  to 
41.  London,  1898,  8vo. 

21  Stephen  Decatur,  called  the  Nel¬ 
son  of  America,  was  born  in  the  State 
of  Maryland  1779,  and  he  is  said  to 
have  been  the  son  of  an  Irish  mother. 


He  was  indebted  to  Commodore 
Barry  for  his  warrant  as  a  midship¬ 
man  in  the  Naval  service  of  the 
United  States,  and  he  afterwards 
served  with  great  distinction  in  the 
war  of  1812.  See  James  Fenimore 
Cooper’s  “  History  of  the  Navy  of 
the  United  States  of  America,”  Vol. 
ii.,  chap,  ii.,  pp.  19  to  36. 

22  He  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
July  28th  1778.  His  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Ford,  was  of  Irish 
birth.  At  the  early  age  of  thirteen, 
Charles  Stewart  commenced  his  nauti¬ 
cal  career  in  the  merchant  service ; 
in  1793,  he  entered  the  American 
Navy  as  lieutenant,  and  was  assigned 
to  the  ship  United  States,  commanded 
by  Commodore  John  Barry.  In  1800, 
he  was  appointed  commander  of  the 
U.  S.  sloop  Experiment.  See  James 


AARON  BURR’S  CONSPIRACY. 


303 


In  July  1804,  Commodore  Preble  brought  his  ships  before  Tripoli 
to  try  the  effect  of  a  bombardment.  Accordingly,  on  the  3rd  of  August, 
the  squadron  approached  within  gunshot  of  the  town ;  he  opened  on  the 
shipping  and  batteries  a  tremendous  fire  of  shot  and  shell,  which  was 
promptly  returned.  A  number  of  the  Tripolitan  vessels  were  captured 
by  boarding  at  the  mouth  of  the  harbour.  Several  bombardments  and 
attacks  succeeded  at  intervals  throughout  the  month.  But,  on  the  4th 
of  September,  the  Commodore  resolved  on  trying  a  new  experiment,  by 
sending  a  fire  ship,  commanded  by  Captain  Somers,  into  the  harbour 
during  the  night,  hoping  thus  to  destroy  the  enemies’  fleet.  However, 
that  vessel  blew  up  prematurely,  and  all  the  crew  were  killed.23 

When  J efferson’s  first  term  of  office  had  expired,  his  conducting  of 
public  affairs  had  been  so  popular,  and  the  republican  party  still 
dominant,  he  was  re-elected  by  162  votes  out  of  17 6. 24  During  his  first 
administration,  Aaron  Burr  had  sided  with  the  Federalists;  and,  in 
1804,  when  the  same  President  had  been  chosen  by  the  Republicans, 
General  George  Clinton  of  New  York  was  elected  Vice-President.  Thus 
disappointed  in  the  primary  object  of  his  ambition,  Burr  stood  candi¬ 
date  for  the  Governorship  of  New  York  ;  but  Hamilton,  a  man  of  high 
principle  and  character,  opposing  him,  although  supported  by  many  of 
the  Federalists,  Burr  was  again  defeated.  Whereupon,  sending  a 
challenge  to  his  successful  opponent,  both  parties  fought  a  duel  near  the 
Hudson  River,  and  opposite  to  New  York,  July  11th  1804.  At  the 
first  fire,  Hamilton  was  killed,  and  his  loss  was  universally  regretted  ; 
his  splendid  talents  and  political  consistency  having  won  the  respect 
even  of  his  party  adversaries.25  Although  serving  bravely  in  the  army, 
Washington  had  entertained  a  bad  opinion  of  Burr’s  personal  character, 
while  he  was  noted  for  profligacy  and  deceit.  The  year  following, 
Burr  engaged  a  number  of  naval  and  military  officers  to  join  in  a  mys¬ 
terious  expedition.  He  began  to  collect  boats,  stores  and  arms,  in 
Ohio,20  so  that  he  might  move  down  the  Mississippi  and  seize  on  New 
Orleans.  It  was  thought,  that  he  could  there  gather  a  force,  to  invade 
Mexico,  or  to  establish  a  monarchy  in  the  territory  west  of  the  Allegany 
Mountains.  In  September  and  October  1806,  Jefferson  had  informa¬ 
tion  about  those  preparations,  and  General  Wilkinson,  who  commanded 
near  New  Orleans,  received  orders  to  take  precautions.  On  the  25th 
of  December,  Burr  assembled  from  sixty  to  one  hundred  men  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Cumberland  River,  and  with  these  he  sailed  down  the 
Mississippi.  However,  as  a  greatly  superior  opposing  force  had  been 


Fenimore  Cooper’s  “Llv-cS  of  Distin¬ 
guished  American  Naval  Officers,” 
Philadelphia  and  Auburn,  1846.  8vo. 

23  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  v.,  p. 
605. 

24  See  Hugh  Murray’s  “  United 
States  of  America,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap, 
iii.,  p.  171. 

85  See  Henry  Cabot  Lodge’s  “  Alex¬ 


ander  Hamilton,”  chap,  s.,  pp.  249, 
250. 

26  He  engaged  the  unfortunate  and 
wealthy  Harman  Blennerhassett,  who 
had  a  magnificent  seat  on  an  island 
in  the  Ohio  River  near  Marietta,  to 
take  part  in  this  conspiracy,  which 
caused  his  utter  ruin.  See  James 
Parton’s  “  Life  and  Times  of  Aaron 
Burr,”  New  York,  1858. 


304 


IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


assembled,  his  followers  soon  dispersed,  and  he  tried  to  effect  an  escape. 
He  was  pursued,  and  in  February  1807,  he  was  arrested  for  treason 
on  his  way  to  Mobile.27  His  coadjutor  had  openly  announced  the  in¬ 
tention  to  attempt  a  separation  of  the  United  States.  On  the  3rd  of 
August,  at  Richmond,  Aaron  Burr  was  tried  for  treason  ;  but  the  Chief 
Justice  Marshall  was  of  opinion  that  he  only  contemplated  an  expedi¬ 
tion  against  Mexico,  a  power  with  which  the  country  was  at  peace. 
Thus,  he  was  acquitted  on  the  main  charge,  and  soon  afterwards  he 
sailed  for  Europe.  The  President  felt  greatly  dissatisfied  with  that 
sentence  of  the  Chief  Justice. 

In  the  beginning  of  1&05,  Captain  William  Eaton  United  States 
Consul  at  Tunis  had  planned  a  daring  enterprise  with  Hamet,  an  elder 
brother  to  the  Bey  of  Tripoli,  and  whom  the  latter  had  driven  from  that 
throne.  They  raised  a  force  of  400  men  in  Egypt,  and  on  the  26th  of 
April  they  captured  the  Tripolitan  port  of  Derne,  in  concert  with  two 
vessels  of  the  American  squadron.  During  the  months  of  May  and  J une, 
succeeding  attempts  were  made  to  retake  the  town,  but  these  signally 
failed.  The  bashaw  now  proposed  favourable  terms  of  peace,  which 
were  accepted  by  the  authorised  agent  of  government.  This  treaty  was 
subsequently  ratified  by  the  President  and  Senate.  Accordingly,  in  1805 
peace  was  re-established  between  the  United  Stales  and  Tripoli.  Tunis 
also  sued  for  peace,  and  for  several  years  succeeding,  the  depredations 
of  the  Barbarv  ci’uisers  ceased.28 

In  the  meantime  those  great  wars  waged  by  the  Emperor  Napoleon 
Buonaparte  had  bent  the  European  powers  beneath  his  sway ;  but,  the 
great  superiority  of  the  English  navy  at  sea  had  prevented  any  vessels 
leaving  the  ports  of  France,  without  imminent  danger  of  capture.29  By 
an  order  in  council  of  1806,  the  British  Government  had  declared  all  the 
French  ports  to  be  in  a  state  of  blockade,  from  Brest  to  the  mouths  of 
the  Elbe.30  Then  Buonaparte  retaliated  by  proclaiming  a  blockade  of 
all  the  British  ports.  Hitherto,  as  a  neutral  power,  the  United  States 
had  derived  extraordinary  advantages  from  their  commercial  and  naval 
intercourse  with  the  belligerent  nations.  Another  order  in  council 
followed  in  1807,  which  forbade  neutral  vessels  to  enter  a  French  port, 


27  See  “  Life  of  Aaron  Burr,”  by 
Samuel  L.  Kapp,  New  York,  1835. 

28  See  Justin  Winsor’s  “  Narrative 
and  Critical  History  of  America,” 
Vol.  vii.,  pp.  374,  375. 

29  Meanwhile,  as  regarded  neutral 
powers,  England  had  set  up  the  doc¬ 
trines,  first,  that  the  flag  does  not 
cover  the  merchandize,  and  the  pro¬ 
perty  of  the  enemies  is  subject 
to  confiscation  on  neutral  vessels ; 
secondly,  that  a  neutral  vessel  has  no 
right  to  be  a  carrier  between  a  parent 
oountry  and  its  colony ;  thirdly,  that 


a  neutral  vessel  may  enter  an  enemy’s 
port,  but  that  it  cannot  sail  from  one 
port  to  another  in  possession  of  an 
enemy.  See  “  Memoires  pour  servir 
a  l’Histoire  de  France  sous  Napoleon, 
Merits  a  Sainte-Helene,  sous  la  dictee  de 
l’Empereur,  par  les  G^neraux  qui  onr 
partage  sa  Captivite,  et  publics  sur  lc» 
Manuscrits  entierement  corriges  de  sa 
Main,”  Tome,  ii.,  Dicte  au  General  Gour- 
gaud,  son  Aide-de-Camp.  Neutres,  sect, 
iv.,  p.  106.  Londres,  1823,  8vo. 

30  See  Alison’s  “  History  of  Europe,” 
Vol.  vi.,  chap,  xlvii.,  pp.  329,  330, 
and  n.  ibid. 


OUTRAGE  ON  THE  SHIP  OF  WAR  CHESAPEAKE.  305 


without  previously  entering  a  British  port,  and  being  there  subjected  to 
an  impost.  Again,  Napoleon  replied  by  publishing  his  celebrated  Milan 
decree,  whereby  any  vessel,  which  should  submit  to  British  search  or  pay 
any  duty  whatever  to  England,  was  rendered  liable  to  French  confisca¬ 
tion.  To  meet  these  measures,  the  United  States  declared  an  embargo, 
ordering  all  the  vessels  abroad  to  return,  while  the  shipping  whether 
native  or  foreign  in  their  ports  was  detained. 

The  extension  of  American  commerce  had  induced  great  numbers  of 
British  seamen  to  embark  on  board  the  United  States  vessels,  where 
they  obtained  higher  wages  and  escaped  from  impressment  for  British 
ships  of  war.  This  very  general  desertion  threatened  to  cripple  the 
English  navy,  as  a  grand  means  for  national  offensive  and  defensive 
purposes.  Then  a  claim  had  been  set  up,  to  search  all  American 
vessels  in  quest  of  deserters.  Even  naturalised  seamen  were  subjected 
to  seizure  by  the  British  cruisers.31  During  this  contest,  the  impress* 
ment  of  American  seamen  by  Great  Britain  raised  a  great  ferment  in 
the  United  States,  and  a  report  was  made  to  Congress,  that  the  number 
of  sailors  taken  from  their  vessels,  since  the  war  had  commenced,  was 
no  less  than  4,228,  of  whom  only  936  had  been  discharged.  It  was  also 
alleged,  that  by  far  the  greater  proportion  of  these  had  been  native?  oi 
America,  and  that  in  697  recent  cases,  only  23  were  British,  and  105 
doubtful,  as  the  proofs  of  origin  were  not  duly  regarded  even  vhen 
produced. 

During  the  brief  administration  of  Charles  James  Fox,  hopes  v>tq 
entertained  that  those  causes  of  disagreement  might  be  settled  through 
diplomacy ;  while  Pinkney 32  and  Monroe33  the  American  Commissioners 
provisionally  signed  a  treaty.34  However,  on  being  submitted  to 
Jefferson,  he  refused  to  sanction  that  agreement,  or  even  to  refer  it  for 
consideration  to  the  Senate.  On  the  death  of  Mr.  Fox,  the  Tories 
succeeded  to  power.  In  prosecution  of  negotiations,  they  refused  even 
to  grant  a  security  against  future  impressments.  In  a  message  to 
Congress  on  the  10th  of  February  1807,  Jefferson  recommended  the 
construction  of  gunboats,  with  a  view  to  eventualities  of  which  already 
he  had  a  forecast. 

An  inexcusable  outrage  and  insult  were  offered  on  board  the  Ame  rican 
frigate  Chesapeake,  when  she  left  Hampton  roads  Virginia,  in  June  1807. 
That  vessel  had  been  fired  upon  and  boarded  by  the  Leopard  man-of-war 
in  search  of  deserters  from  some  of  his  Britannic  Majesty’s  ships.35  This 


31  Not  alone,  by  asserting  the  right 
of  visit  did  the  English  assume  the 
police  of  the  seas,  and  an  inquisition 
over  all  the  world’s  commerce;  but, 
in  exercising  these  visits,  they  took 
away  the  best  seamen,  pretending 
they  had  been  English  subjects  and 
deserters  from  their  navy.  See  J. 
Michelet’s  “  Histoire  du  XIX.  Sie- 
cle,”  Tome  iii.,  Liv.  iii.,  sect,  x.,  p. 
254.  Paris,  1872-1875,  8vo. 


32  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  v.,  p  26. 

33  “  The  Life  of  Monroe,”  written 
by  Daniel  C.  Gilman,  has  appeared 
in  the  American  Statesmen  series, 
Boston,  1883. 

34  See  Alison’s  “  History  of  Europe," 
Vol.  v.,  chap,  xlii.,  p.  6?o. 

35  It  having  been  ascertained,  that 
four  British  seamen  were  harboured 
on  board  the  American  frigate  Chesa* 

V 


IR1SH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


506 


capped  the  climax  of  previous  provocations,  between  Great  Britain  and 
the  United  States.36  Soon  afterwards  the  President  issued  a  proclama¬ 
tion  excluding  British  ships  of  war  from  all  the  coasts  and  waters  subject 
to  his  jurisdiction.  Meanwhile,  a  violent  and  general  feeling  of  irritation 
had  been  excited  throughout  the  United  States.  The  democratic 
American  press37  fanned  the  flame,  and  tha  large  foreign  element — 
especially  from  Ireland — laboured  with  the  war  party  to  excite  hostilities 
against  England.38  Although  King  George  III.  was  now  unwilling  to 
provoke  another  dispute  with  America,  and  had  consented  that  a  liberal 
and  honourable  explanation  should  take  place,  in  reference  to  the  capture 
of  the  Chesapeake;  yet,  in  a  speech  to  parliament  in  1808  he  declared, 
that  the  American  demand  to  withdraw  the  continuance  of  search  was 
inconsistent  with  the  maritime  rights  of  Britain.39 

From  January  1st  1808,  the  importation  of  slaves  into  the  United 
States  was  prohibited  by  law.  This  provision  left  authority  for  Con¬ 
gress  to  prevent  their  migration  from  State  to  State,  or  into  the  Terri¬ 
tories,  but  it  was  made  under  a  dubious  form  of  words.  A  policy  to 
limit  the  area  of  slavery  was  also  implied.40  The  third  census  of  the 
union  was  again  taken  in  1810,  and  it  showed  the  population  had  in¬ 
creased  to  7,239,881.41 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  administration  was  to  remove  the  embargo, 
while  non-intercourse  was  merely  prescribed  against  England  and 
France.  A  lengthened  and  tortuous  negotiation  then  entered  upon 
only  resulted  in  misunderstandings  between  the  British  and  American 
cabinets.  At  last  in  1811,  Mr.  Foster  was  sent  out  as  plenipotentiary, 
to  offer  compensation  for  injury  done,  in  the  case  of  the  Chesapeake, 
and  to  state  that  the  orders  in  Council  were  virtually  revoked.  How¬ 
ever,  the  right  of  search  was  not  abrogated,  and  American  vessels  still 
continued  to  be  seized  and  searched.  Having  served  a  second  term  by 
re-election,  Jefferson  resigned  the  Presidency.42  The  Federalists  sought 


eake  and  their  surrender  refused,  the 
ritish  man-of-war  Leopard  poured  a 
broadside  into  the  Chesapeake,  which 
killed  twenty  men.  See  James  Feni- 
more  Cooper’s  “  History  of  the  Navy 
of  the  United  States  of  America,” 
Vol.  ii.,  chap,  vii.,  pp.  117  to  133 

36  See  “The  Annual  Register  ”  for- 
the  year  1807,  Vol.  xlix.,  pp.  718, 
763. 

37  Some  of  those  Irish  insurgents 
of  education  who  escaped  from  the 
British  Government,  after  the  Rebel¬ 
lion  of  1798,  were  editors  and  writers 
for  influential  newspapers ;  thus,  the 
Intelligencer  at  Washington  was  edited 
by  Gales ;  the  Whig,  at  Baltimore, 
by  Baptiste  Irving ;  at  Philadelphia, 
the  Aurora  was  edited  by  Duane, 
and  the  Democratic  Press  by  Binns. 
All  of  these  were  United  Irishmen 


38  See  S.  G.  Goodrich’s  “  Recollec¬ 
tions  of  a  Lifetime,”  &c.,  Historical, 
Biographical,  Anecdotical,  and  De¬ 
scriptive,  Vol.  i.,  Letter  xxvii.,  pp. 
440,  441.  New  York  and  Auburn, 
1856,  8vo. 

39  See  “  King  George  the  Third,  his 
Court,  and  Family,”  Vol.  ii.,  sect, 
vii.,  p.  345. 

40  Soe  the  “  Encyclopaedia  Ameri¬ 
cana,”  Vol  iv.,  p.  526. 

41  See  ibid.,  Vol.  i.,  p.  768. 

42  He  then  retired  to  his  seat  at 
Monticello,  where  he  received  a 
cordial  welcome  from  the  inhabitants 
of  Albemarle  County  in  Virginia. 
See  “  Memoirs,  Correspondence,  and 
Private  Papers  of  Thomas  Jefferson,” 
Vol.  iv.,  p.  131.  For  a  very  excellent 
account  of  transactions  under  his  gov¬ 
ernment,  the  reader  is  referred  to 


EUBL10  EXCITEMENT  AGA1N9T  f^CLAND.  307 

to  elect  Mr.  Pinkney,  but  he  was  defeated  by  a  large  majority;  and  in 
1809,  James  Madison43  of  Virginia  succeeded.  Clinton  was  again  elected 
Vice-President. 

When  the  non-intercourse  law  expired  in  May  1810,  the  American 
government  announced,  if  either  France  or  England  should  not  repeal 
its  abnoxious  decrees,  that  measure  must  be  renewed  against  the  power 
refusing.  Whereupon  to  annoy  his  adversary,  Napoleon  issued  a  pro¬ 
clamation  in  August,  revoking  the  decree  from  the  1st  of  November 
following,  so  far  as  America  was  concerned.  However,  when  pressed 
on  the  policy  of  England  Foster  admitted,  that  a  general  revocation  of  the 
French  decrees  must  precede  a  repeal  of  the  British  orders  in  Council.44 
Early  in  November,  Mr.  Madison  summoned  Congress  and  issued  his 
proclamation,45  declaring  that  unrestrained  commerce  with  France  was 
allowed,  but  that  all  intercourse  with  Great  Britain  was  prohibited.46 

Meantime,  the  English  Government  had  stationed  ships  of  war  be¬ 
fore  the  principal  harbours  of  the  United  States  to  board  and  search 
merchantmen,  many  of  which  were  sent  to  British  ports  as  legal  prizes. 
In  one  instance,  Commodore  Rogers,  commander  of  the  President 
frigate,  in  May  1811,  met  a  British  war  vessel  off  the  coast  of  Virginia; 
when  in  the  evening,  he  hailed  and  was  hailed  in  turn ;  but  a  shot  was 
fired  immediately,  and  it  struck  the  main  mast  of  the  President.  The 
Commodore  returned  the  fire,  and  in  a  few  minutes  silenced  the  guns  of 
his  adversary  ;  he  then  hailed  and  was  answered,  that  the  ship  was  the 
war  sloop  Little  Belt  of  eighteen  guns.  Thirty -two  of  her  men  were 
killed  and  wounded,  while  the  vessel  was  much  disabled  during  that 
brief  encounter.  This  spirited  action  of  the  American  Commodore  was 
universally  applauded  throughout  the  States,  and  indignation  was 
excited  to  the  highest  pitch  against  the  intolerable  conduct  of  the 
English.  Deprived  of  the  religious  and  civil  rights  of  citizens  in  their 
own  country  before  emancipation  had  been  obtained,  those  Irish 
Catholic  exiles,  who  were  already  very  numerous,  exercised  a  powerful 
influence  in  hastening  on  and  sustaining  a  war,  as  they  had  a  rancorous 
hatred  against  the  party  of  ascendancy,  that  dominated  in  the  councils 
of  England,  and  who  opposed  all  efforts  made  for  popular  reforms  and 
social  progress.  The  Federal  party  and  nearly  the  whole  commercial 
interest — especially  in  New  England — wished  for  a  peaceful  solution 
of  the  international  difficulty.  However,  the  public  feeling  had  been 
too  generally  aroused,  and  it  was  soon  felt,  that  the  administration 
should  take  a  decided  course  to  obtain  national  redress.  47 


Henry  Adams’  “  History  of  the  United 
States  of  America  ”  during  the  First 
and  Second  Administrations  of  Thomas 
Jefferson,  Vols.  i.  to  iv.,  London  and 
New  York,  1891,  8vo. 

43  His  Life  has  been  written  by 
William  C.  Rives,  and  published  in 
Three  Volumes.  Boston,  1859  to 
1868. 

44  See  “  American  State  Papers  ” 


(Foreign),  Vol.  iii.,  pp.  435  to 
457. 

43  See  the  “  Madison  Papers,”  pub¬ 
lished  at  Washington,  in  Three  Vol¬ 
umes,  1840. 

4,5  For  particulars  of  his  adminis¬ 
tration,  the  reader  may  consult  Henry 
Adams’  “  History  of  the  United 
States  of  America,”  Vols.  v.  to  ix. 

47  See  Henri  Martin’s  “  Histoire  de 


308 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


In  a  message  of  the  President,  dated  November  5th  1811,  enumer¬ 
ating  the  wrongs  sustained  from  the  British  government,  he  proposed 
an  augmentation  of  the  military  and  naval  force,  with  the  imposition 
of  additional  duties  and  customs  to  meet  the  increased  expenditure. 
Authority  was  given  by  Congress,  to  raise  an  addition  of  70,000  men 
for  the  standing  army,  and  the  President  was  authorised  to  accept  the 
services  of  50,000  volunteers,  as  also  to  order  out  the  militia,  when 
deemed  necessary  to  reinforce  the  navy,  and  to  arm  merchant¬ 
men  in  self-defence.  Meanwhile,  the  Indians  on  the  north-western 
frontiers  had  been  committing  serious  depredations,  and  the  white 
settlers  were  greatly  alarmed.  Whereupon,  during  the  autumn  of  this 
year,  Governor  William  Henry  Harrison,48  having  the  fourth  United 
States  regiment  under  Colonel  Boyd  49  with  a  body  of  Kentucky  and 
Indiana  militia,  prepared  to  move  on  the  Wabash,  where  Tecumseh,  a 
Shawnee  chief,  and  his  brother  known  as  the  Prophet,  a  famous 
medicine  man,  had  their  principal  villages.50  It  was  very  generally 
known,  that  British  agency  had  originated  those  troubles,  and  this 
belief  greatly  increased  national  antipathy  against  that  power.  The 
Indians  were  signally  defeated,  in  a  battle  fought  at  the  Tippecanoe 
junction  of  the  Wabash,  on  the  7th  of  November.  This  repulse  quelled 
the  frontier  disturbances  for  a  time ;  but  Tecumseh  was  soon  in  arms, 
and  with  a  regular  commission  in  the  British  service. 

In  February  1812,  it  became  known  that  a  Mr.  Henry  was  em¬ 
ployed  by  General  Craig,  Governor  of  Canada,  to  stir  up  opposition 
against  the  war  party  in  the  Northern  States ;  but,  his  agency  on  their 
behalf  being  disavowed  by  the  British  government,  he  then  gave  infor¬ 
mation  to  the  adverse  power.  That  repudiation  by  the  English  Ministry, 
however,  was  not  generally  credited  ;  and,  revelations  then  made  lent  still 
greater  force  to  the  democratic  resolve,  that  the  President  and  the 
Senate  should  no  longer  hesitate  about  an  open  declaration  of  war 
against  England.  In  April,  another  embargo  was  laid  on  American 
vessels,  and  this  action  so  greatly  inflamed  popular  resentment  that  those 
hoping  to  procure  peace  through  negotiation  could  no  longer  resist  the 
course  forced  upon  the  American  government.  In  the  midst  of  such 
excitement,  the  Vice-President  of  the  United  States  George  Clinton51 
died  in  Washington  on  the  20th  April,  having  rendered  great  services,  both 
in  a  military  and  civil  capacity,  to  the  government  of  the  United  States. 


France,  depuis,  1798,  jusqu’  a  nos 
Jours,”  Tome  iv.,  chap,  i.,  p.  2. 

48  His  Life  has  been  written  by 
Moses  Dawson,  and  published  in  Cin¬ 
cinnati,  1834 ;  by  .Tames  Hall,  Phila¬ 
delphia,  1836 ;  by  Richard  Hildreth, 
1839 ;  and  by  Samuel  J.  Burr,  New 
York,  1840.  He  died  in  Washington 
in  1841,  and  consequently  the  fore- 

Soing  biographies  are  incomplete. 

ne  of  the  latest  Lives  of  this  eminent 
soldier  and  statesman  is  that  written 


bv  H.  Montgomery,  and  published  in 

New  York,  1853. 

49  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  i.,  p.  340. 

50  An  interesting  account  of  these 
famous  chiefs  may  be  found  in  Edward 
Eggleston’s  “  Tecumseh  and  the  Shaw¬ 
nee  Prophet,”  New  York,  1878. 

51  See  an  account  of  him,  in  Apple¬ 
ton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Bio¬ 
graphy,”  Vol.  i.,  pp.  659,  660. 


James  Monroe, 

Fifth  President  of  the  US 


James  Madison 

Fourth  President  of  the  U  S 


Andrew  Jackson, 

Seventh  President  of  the  U.  S. 


John  Qu/ncey  Adams. 

Sixth  President  of  the  US 


WAR  DECLARED  AGAINST  ENGLAND. 


309 


On  the  8th  of  April,  Louisiana  was  admitted  as  a  new  State  and  the 
eighteenth,  into  the  Union.52  Afterwards,  the  name  of  Louisiana 
Territory  was  changed,  by  the  United  States  authorities,  to  that  of 
the  Missouri  Territory,  on  the  4th  of  June  1812.  A  governor  was 
appointed  in  the  person  of  William  Clarke  ;53  courts  of  justice  were 
established ;  and  a  council  was  formed,  when  Missouri  was  advanced  to 
the  second  grade  of  government,  at  that  time,  by  an  act  of  Congress. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

War  declared  against  England — First  Invasion  of  Canada — Naval  Engagements — 
American  Preparations  for  another  Invasion  of  Canada — Operations  under 
General  Harrison — English  Fleet  off  the  Eastern  Coasts  of  the  United  States 
— Engagements  in  Canada — Commodore  Perry’s  Victory  on  Lake  Erie — 
General  Jackson’s  Victories  over  the  Southern  Indians — Failure  of  General 
Wilkinson’s  Expedition  against  Montreal. 

On  the  1st  of  June  1812,  the  President  issued  a.  message  to  Congress, 
recounting  the  wrongs  inflicted  on  the  country,  and  submitting  the 
question,  whether  the  United  States  should  continue  to  endure  them 
or  declare  war.1  With  closed  doors,  this  message  was  discussed. 
John  Randolph  and  the  Federals  were  outvoted  in  a  resolution  against 
the  war,  and  a  speech  in  support  of  that  motion  was  stopped,  by  sixty- 
seven  to  forty-two  voices.  The  propriety  and  expediency  of  repealing 
the  Orders  in  Council  had  been  considered  by  the  British  Government ; 
and  accordingly,  on  the  23rd  of  June,2  these  were  revoked  uncondi¬ 
tionally,  but  with  a  proviso,  that  if  the  American  Government  did  not, 
after  due  notice,  repeal  the  Non-intercourse  Act,  that  revocation  should 
become  null,  while  the  original  orders  should  revive.3 

Meantime,  on  the  18th  of  June,  an  act  of  Congress  was  passed  by 
a  considerable  majority,4  and  war  was  declared  against  England.  Next 


52  See  Dr.  L.  De  Colange’s  “  Nati¬ 
onal  Gazetteer,”  p.  585. 

53  See  the  “  Encyclopaedia  Ameri¬ 
cana,”  Vol.  iii.,'p.  750. 

1  Before  this  time,  George  Canning 
was  Secretary  of  State  for  Foreign 
Affairs  in  England,  under  the  Duke 
of  Portland  as  Premier,  and  he  main¬ 
tained  “  the  right  of  searching  for, 
and  if  found,  of  impressing  the  sub¬ 
jects  of  Great  Britain  who  might 
have  volunteered  or  been  kidnapped, 
or  seduced,  to  serve  as  sailors  in  the 
navy  or  mercantile  marine  of  the 
United  States ;  that  right  was 
grounded  by  the  British  Government 
on  the  universal  principle,  that  no 
man  can  relieve  himself  from  that 


indelible  allegiance  which  he  owes  to 
the  Government  under  which  he  was 
born.” — Augustus  Granville  Staple¬ 
ton’s  “  George  Canning  and  his 
Times,”  chap,  xi.,  p.  149.  London, 
1859,  8vo 

2  At  this  date,  the  order  appeared 
in  the  London  Gazette. 

3  See  Sir  Archibald  Alison’s  “  Lives 
of  Lord  Castlereagh  and  Sir  Charles 
Steward,  the  Second  and  Third  Mar¬ 
quesses  of  Londonderry,”  &c  Vol. 
i.,  chap,  vii.,  p  527. 

4  The  British  Minister  at  Washing¬ 
ton  Foster  soon  afterwards  stated  in 
the  British  House  of  Commons,  that 
among  the  members  of  Congress  who 
voted  for  the  war,  there  were  no  less 


310  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

day  its  proclamation  was  issued,  and  enlistments  were  authorized. 
General  Henry  Dearborn5  was  commissioned  as  Commander-in-chief, 
-while  James  Wilkinson,  Wade  Hampton,  William  Hull,  and  Joseph 
Bloomfield  were  appointed  Brigadiers.  On  the  part  of  England, 
Admiral  Warren  commanding  on  the  .  station,  and  Sir  George  Prevost 
Governor  of  Canada,  were  directed  to  propose  an  armistice,  as  a  pre¬ 
liminary  to  the  restoration  of  peace.  Unless  coupled  with  a  stipulation, 
that  the  right  of  search  should  also  be  renounced,  President  Madison 
rejected  that  overture.  Whereupon,  the  Americans  resolved  on  opening 
the  war,  by  an  invasion  of  Canada. 

At  the  commencement  of  this  campaign,  the  Governor  of 
Michigan  also  General  of  Brigade  Hull  was  unsuccessful.6  Having 
assembled  500  regulars  and  2,000  militia  at  Detroit,  he  crossed  the 
Strait,  and  published  a  boastful  proclamation,  announcing  the  speedy 
and  entire  subjection  of  Canada.  Meantime,  the  British  Captain 
Bogers  had  seized  Miohillimakinac,  in  the  northern  part  of  Michigan, 
■where  with  Tecumseh  and  his  Indians  he  was  soon  joined  by 
General  Brock,  commanding  a  large  detachment  of  regulars  and  the 
Canadian  Militia.  Hull  had  threatened  a  British  garrison  at  Fort 
Malden  for  some  time  ;  but  now,  being  opposed  in  considerable  force, 
he  retreated  across  the  river  followed  by  Brock.  Hull  then  shut  him¬ 
self  up  in  Detroit,  in  the  Michigan  Territory.  7  Distrusting  the  num¬ 
bers  and  stability  of  his  raw  forces  to  hold  that  place,  the  American 
General  surrendered  his  army  to  the  number  of  2,340,  with  thirty-three 
pieces  of  cannon,  8  on  the  16  th  of  August.  9 


than  six  members  of  the  late  Society 
of  United  Irishmen.  See  Hildreth’s 
“  History  of  the  United  States  of 
America.”  Second  series.  Yol.  iii., 
p.  317. 

5  He  was  born  in  New  Hampshire 
23rd  of  February  1751.  He  served 
with  distinction  in  the  Revolutionary 
War;  but,  he  did  not  fulfil  the  ex¬ 
pectations  formed  of  him,  during  the 
War  of  1812-1814.  He  died  at  Rox- 
bury,  Massachusetts,  on  the  6th  of 
June  1829.  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclo¬ 
paedia  of  American  Biography,”  Vol. 
ii. ,  p.  117. 

6  This  General  had  served  with 
great  distinction  in  the  Revolutionary 
War,  and  afterwards  in  Shay’s  Rebel¬ 
lion.  However,  the  government  had 
not  given  him  notice  of  the  declara¬ 
tion  of  war  in  sufficient  time,  while 
the  British  General  Brock,  in  Canada, 
had  previous  intelligence  of  it,  and  a 
force  of  2,000  regular  troops  prepared 
to  take  the  initiative.  See  the  “  En¬ 
cyclopaedia  Americana, Yol.  iii.,  p. 
363. 


7  At  a  later  period,  this  General 
describes  these  events  and  seeks  to 
justify  his  actions  in  a  history  of  the 
“  Campaign  of  the  North-west  Army, 
1812,”  published  in  1824. 

8  See  Archibald  Alison’s  “  History 
of  Europe,”  Vol.  x.,  chap,  lxxvi.,  pp. 
659,  660. 

9  The  news  of  this  disaster  was 
brought  to  Washington  by  Colonel 
Lewis  Cass,  who  commanded  an  Ohio 
Regiment,  and  his  exaggerated  state¬ 
ments  produced  strong  prejudice 
against  Hull  at  that  time,  and  which 
the  true  historic  accounts  have  not 
since  wholly  obliterated.  Accordingly, 
Hull  was  found  guilty  of  cowardice 
by  a  court  martial,  and  sentenced  to 
be  shot.  However,  the  President  re¬ 
mitted  that  sentence,  in  consideration 
of  his  past  services :  and,  most  prob¬ 
ably,  because  the  government  itself 
deserved  the  greatest  share  of  blame. 
In  1814,  General  Hull  published  a 
Defence  of  his  conduct,  while  after 
his  death  in  1825,  an  account  of  his 
Life  was  published  by  his  daughter 


FIRST  INVASION  OF  CANADA. 


311 

Other  reverses  by  land  soon  followed.  On  the  Niagara  frontier, 
Colonel  Van  Rensselaer,  with  a  small  body  of  troops  and  militia, 
crossed  below  the  Falls  from  Lewiston,  where  a  large  body  of  militia 
still  remained.  Those  forces  were  commanded  by  General  Wads¬ 
worth.  10  A  battle  was  fought  at  Queenstown,  on  the  13th  of  October. 
At  first,  the  Americans  stormed  the  Heights,  and  drove  the  enemy 
from  their  batteries,  General  Brock  being  killed  in  the  onset. 11  How¬ 
ever,  General  Sheaffe  restored  the  battle.  As  no  inducement  could  urge 
the  militia  at  Lewiston,  to  cross  the  river  and  support  their  comrades, 
1,014  of  the  invaders  were  either  killed  or  captured.  After  a  severe 
action,  in  which  Lieutenant-Colonel  Winfield  Scott  12  and  Captain 
John  E,  Wool  were  especially  distinguished  for  their  valour,  the  Ameri¬ 
cans  were  defeated, 13 

The  Seminole  and  Creek  Indians  had  inflicted  great  depredations, 
during  the  winter  of  1812,  on  the  frontier  settlers  of  Georgia ;  when,  at 
the  head  of  2,500  Tennesse  volunteers,  General  Andrew  Jackson 
marched  into  their  country,  and  for  a  time  compelled  submission. 14  He 
had  been  directed  by  the  Government  to  proceed  down  the  Mississippi, 
for  the  defence  of  the  lower  country. 15  As  Major-General  of  militia, 
he  first  attracted  public  notice  through  his  military  talents,  while  con¬ 
ducting  the  campaign  against  the  Creek  Indians  in  Georgia  and 
Alabama.  16 

At  sea,  with  their  small  navy,  the  United  States  achieved  glorious 
successes.  17  Thus,  on  the  13th  of  August,  Captain  Porter  of  the  United 
States  frigate  Essex  captured  the  British  sloop-of-war  Alert.  On  the 
19th  of  the  same  month,  the  United  States  frigate  Constitution — Cap¬ 
tain  Hull 18  commanding — encountered  the  British  frigate  Guerriere — 
Captain  Dacres  commandant — near  the  Gulf  of  St.  Laurence.  This  lat¬ 
ter  was  a  desperate  engagement  lasting  for  an  hour,  until  the  main  and 


Mrs.  M.  Campbell,  and  by  his  grand¬ 
son  Rev.  J.  Freeman  Clarke,  in  1848. 

10  See  Alison’s  “  History  of  Europe,” 
Vol.  x.,  chap,  lxxvi.,  pp.  662,  663. 

1 '  See  Christie’s  “  Memoirs  of  the 
War  in  Canada,”  pp.  67,  68. 

12  The  particulars  of  the  life  of  this 
celebrated  man  are  embodied  in  “  Me¬ 
moirs  of  Lieut. -Gen.  Scott.,  LL.D.,” 
writtten  by  himself,  in  two  volumes, 
8vo.,  London  and  New  York. 

13  See  the  “Annual  Register”  for 
the  year  1812,  Vol.  liv.,  General  His¬ 
tory,  chap,  xix.,  p.  253. 

14  See  “  Civil  and  Military  History 
of  Andrew  Jackson,”  New  York, 
1825,  for  a  very  excellent  narrative 
of  these  and  his  subsequent  actions. 

15  See  Charles  Knight’s  “  English 
Cyclopaedia,”  Biography,  Vol.  iii., 
col.  574. 


16  See  the  “  Encyclopaedia  Britan- 
nica,”  Vol.  xiii.,  p.  533.  Ninth 
edition :  Edinburgh,  1875,  et  seq. 

17  The  British  naval  historian  of 
this  war,  William  James,  has  stated 
much  to  diminish  the  merit  of  the 
United  States  commanders  and  sea¬ 
men,  in  his  accounts  of  the  various 
succeeding  engagements ;  while,  on 
the  other  hand,  James  Fenimore 
Cooper  has  undertaken  to  refute 
several  of  those  statements  in  his 
“  History  of  the  Navy  of  the  United 
States  of  America.”  Hereafter,  we 
shall  generally  refer,  in  brief,  to  both 
authorities,  for  the  naval  actions ; 
the  London  edition  of  Cooper,  1839, 
being  the  only  one  we  had  been  able 
to  procure. 

18  See  an  account  of  him  in  Apple¬ 
ton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Bio¬ 
graphy,”  Vol.  iii.,  pp.  309  to  311. 


312 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  TIIE  UNITED  STATES. 


mizzen  masts  of  the  Guerriere  went  over  her  side,  and  she  lay  on  the 
water  a  complete  wreck.  Then  unavoidably  she  struck,  and  having  lost 
fifteen  killed  and  sixty-three  wounded,  that  vessel  was  captured.  19  The 
crew  being  removed,  the  hull  was  set  on  fire  by  the  victors.  20  On  the 
18th  of  October,  the  United  States  sloop-of-war  Wasp,  and  the  British 
sloop-of-war  Frolic,  had  an  engagement  near  the  Bermudas.  Each 
vessel  carried  nine  broadside  guns.  A  desperate  encounter  took  place.  21 
The  Wasp  suffered  severely  in  her  rigging.  Her  opponent,  however, 
besides  injuries  still  more  severe,  had  the  greater  part  of  her  crew  killed 
and  wounded.  At  length,  having  come  to  close  quarters,  the  American 
seamen  boarded  the  Frolic,  and  she  surrendered.  About  two  hours 
afterwards,  the  British  man-of-war  Poictiers,  a  seventy-four,  fell  upon 
the  Wasp  and  her  prize,-  when  both  were  captured  and  carried  to  Ber¬ 
muda.  22  On  the  25  th  of  October,  an  engagement  took  place  between 
the  frigate  United  States,  Captain  Decatur,  and  a  British  frigate  the 
Macedonian,  Captain  Carden,  near  the  Azores.  This  action  lasted  for 
two  hours.  At  the  end  of  that  time,  and  having  nearly  all  her  masts 
and  rigging  shot  away,  the  Macedonian  was  obliged  to  strike,  with 
thirty-six  men  killed  and  sixty-eight  wounded.  23  The  Americans  had 
only  five  killed  and  seven  wounded.  Captain  Carden  presented  his 
sword  to  the  conqueror,  when  the  Macedonian ,  was  taken ;  but  it  was 
returned  to  him  by  Captain  Decatur,  with  a  compliment  paid  for  his 
valour.  The  prize  was  conducted  to  New  York.  24 

An  army  had  been  mustered  by  General  Dearborn  at  Plattsburg, 
and  this  was  destined  to  operate  on  the  northern  frontiers  of  New  York. 
Under  his  chief  command  were  some  10,000  men,  stretching  along  the 
Canadian  line  from  Plattsburg  to  Michigan.25  On  the  16th  of  No¬ 
vember,  he  broke  up  the  encampment  at  his  own  station,  and  marched 
to  Champlain  on  the  Canadian  line  ;26  yet,  nothing  very  effective  fol¬ 
lowed  immediately  from  this  movement.  At  sea,  on  the  22nd  of  De¬ 
cember,  the  British  frigate  Southampton  captured  the  American  brig 


19  The  American  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  was  only  14.  See  the  “  En¬ 
cyclopaedia  Americana,”  Vol,  iii,  p,  363, 

20  For  a  British  version  of  this 
action  the  reader  is  referred  to  Wil¬ 
liam  James’  “  Full  and  correct 
Account  of  the  Chief  Naval  Occur¬ 
rences  of  the  late  War  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  United  States  of 
America ;  preceded  by  a  cursory  Ex¬ 
amination  of  the  American  Accounts 
of  their  Naval  actions  fought  pre¬ 
vious  to  that  period ;  to  which  is 
added  an  Appendix  with  Plates,” 
Chap,  v.,  pp.  97  to  125,  and  Appen¬ 
dix  Nos.  8,  9,  10,  11  and  12,  pp. 
xii.  to  xxi.  London :  1817,  8vo. 

21  See  the  “  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1812,  Vol.  liv.,  General  His¬ 
tory,  chap,  xix.,  pp.  200  to  205. 


22  See  James’  work,  Chap,  vi.,  pp. 
139  to  154 ;  also,  Cooper’s  “  History 
of  the  Navy  of  the  United  States  of 
America,”  Vol.  ii. ,  pp.  208  to  211. 

23  See  the  “  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1812  Vol.  liv.,  General  His¬ 
tory,  chap,  xix.,  pp.  203,  204. 

24  See  James  chap,  vi.,  pp.  154  to 
167,  and  Cooper,  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  xi., 
pp.  205  to  207.  Also,  Dr.  John 
Campbell’s  “  Naval  History  of  Great 
Britain,”  Vol.  viii.,  chap,  xxxiii.,  pp. 
282  to  284. 

25  See  S.  G.  Goodrich’s  “Recollec¬ 
tions  of  a  Lifetime,”  &c.,  Vol.  i.. 
Letter  xxviii.,  p.  453. 

26  See  the  “  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1812,  Vol.  liv.,  General  His¬ 
tory,  chap.  xix..  r-  204. 


NAVAL  ENGAGEMENTS. 


313 


Vixen.  Five  days  afterwards,  both  vessels  were  totally  wrecked.  How¬ 
ever,  on  the  29th  of  December  the  United  States  frigate  Constitution, 
commanded  by  Commodore  Bainbridge,  captured  the  British  frigate 
Java,  Captain  Lambert,  off  the  coast  of  Brazil.  The  British  vessel  was 
greatly  damaged,  and  an  effort  was  made  to  board  the  American  ;  but 
soon  the  fore  and  the  main-top  mast  fell,  as  also  Captain  Lambert,  who 
was  mortally  wounded.27  Thinking  the  Java  had  struck,  Banbridgo 
moved  some  distance  to  adjust  his  rigging;  but  seeing  her  flag  still 
flying,  he  approached  and  obtained  a  raking  position  to  renew  th© 
action.  The  Java  then  surrendered,  having  lost  twenty- two  killed,  and 
one  hundred  and  two  wounded ;  while  the  Americans  acknowledged  a 
loss  of  nine  killed  and  twenty-five  wounded,  among  the  latter  being  the 
Commandant  himself.  On  surrender  of  the  crew,  the  prisoners  were 
removed  on  board  the  Constitution,  and  the  Java  was  burned.28  This 
series  of  triumphs  by  sea  caused  great  rejoicings  throughout  the  United 
States  ; 29  and  their  naval  force,  which  was  very  limited  at  that  period,30 
soon  spread  its  fame  over  the  civilized  world.  Elated  by  their  pre¬ 
vious  triumphs  at  sea,  as  intelligence  of  those  defeats  arrived,  the 
English  were  then  stunned  with  the  foregoing  instances  of  successive 
disasters  to  their  navy  in  the  combat  of  single  vessels.31 

After  vain  negotiations  to  accommodate  matters,  during  the  close  of 
the  preceding  year,32  the  war  was  renewed  in  1813.  The  administration 
had  been  very  generally  reproached,  for  not  having  conducted  more 
efficiently;  and  accordingly,  for  the  coming  campaign  the  American 
land  forces  were  divided  into  three  armies.  General  Dearborn  was 
placed  near  lake  Ontario,  with  the  army  of  the  centre  ;  General  Hamp¬ 
ton  was  stationed  at  Lake  Champlain,  with  the  army  of  the  north  ;  while 
Major-General  William  Henry  Harrison,  in  Ohio,  was  to  operate 
against  Detroit  and  to  recover  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  with  the 
Western  Army. 


27  See  James,  chap,  vii.,  pp.  168 
to  194.  Aiso,  Cooper,  Vol.  ii.,  chap, 
xii.,  pp.  219  to  225. 

28  See  “  The  American  Navy,  its 
Ships  and  their  Achievements,”  by 
Charles  Morris,  chap.  iii. ,  pp.  47,  48. 

29  On  the  authority  of  James,  it  has 
been  asserted  by  several  succeeding 
writers,  that  during  this  war,  the 
British  vessels  were  for  the  most  part 
inferior  in  size,  complement  of  men, 
number,  and  weight  of  guns,  to  those 
of  the  United  States.  This  statement 
has  been  ably  handled  and  refuted, 
in  several  instances,  by  James  Feni- 
more  Cooper,  in  his  valuable  work, 
“  History  of  the  Navy  of  the  United 
States  of  America.” 

30  At  the  outbreak  of  the  W ar  in 
1812,  Paul  Hamilton  was  Secretary 


of  the  United  'States  Navy.  Mean¬ 
time,  navy  yards  had  been  created  at 
Washington,  Brooklyn  and  Boston. 
All  the  warships  were  at  once  com¬ 
missioned,  and  the  clerical  force  was 
increased  to  22  vessels.  William 
Jones  succeeded  Hamilton  in  1813,  as 
Secretary  of  the  Navy ;  and  in  turn 
B.  W.  Crowninshield  was  successor 
in  December  1814.  See  “  Encyclo¬ 
paedia  Americana,”  Vol.  iii..  p.  817. 

31  See  Alison’s  “  History  of  Europe,” 
Vol.  x.,  chap,  lxxvi.,  p.  672. 

32  The  correspondence  between  Lord 
Castlereagh  and  Mr.  Russell  as 
also  that  between  Admiral  WTarren 
and  Mr.  Monroe  on  the  subject  of 
effecting  an  armistice  had  been  laid 
before  Congress.  Afterwards,  those 
documents  were  printed  in  the  Ameri¬ 
can  papers. 


314  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Although  nothing  very  decisive  took  place  on  either  side,  numerous 
engagements  followed  by  sea  and  land.  On  the  10th  of  February,  1813, 
the  United  States  sloop  Hornet,  commanded  by  Captain  James 
Lawrence,  captured  the  British  brig  Resolute.  On  the  24th  of  the 
same  month,  the  Hornet  engaged  the  British  brig  Peacock ;  when  after 
a  most  bloody  and  destructive  action,  lasting  for  an  hour  and  a  half, 
the  latter  was  found  to  be  in  a  sinking  state.  An  effort  was  then  made 
by  both  crews  to  save  those  on  board  ;  but  that  vessel  went  to  the 
bottom  with  thirteen  of  her  own  men,  and  three  belonging  to  the 
Hornet,  -which  had  captured  her.83 

Meantime  General  Harrison  had  been  appointed  to  conduct  the  war 
on  the  north-western  frontiers.34  Under  him,  General  Winchester  held 
a  command,  and  as  the  British  now  threatened  Frenchtown  on  Raisin 
River  in  Michigan,  he  crossed  over  to  attack  Fort  Detroit.  He  then 
marched  to  the  relief  of  Frenchtown.35  A  battle  was  fought  there  on 
the  18th  of  January,  the  Americans  under  Allen  losing  67  men,  but  re¬ 
pulsing  their  opponent  s  with  a  loss  of  88.  However,  under  the  leadership 
of  General  Proctor,  the  English  from  Fort  Malden  surprised  the  Americans 
on  the  22nd  of  January,  at  the  Fort  of  Ogdenburg.36  These  were  obliged 
to  surrender,  after  a  gallant  defence.37  Such  as  were  able  to  march  were 
taken  to  Canada ;  the  sick  and  wounded  were  left  behind,  but  these 
were  soon  massacred  by  the  Indians,  While  the  American  loss  was 
946,  that  of  the  British  was  only  182,  as  the  result  of  that  encounter.33 

Meantime  the  Americans  had  continued  to  augment  their  naval 
force  in  Sackett’s  Harbour  on  Lake  Ontario ;  and  this  was  intended 
to  renew  their  invasion  of  Canada.  The  flotilla  was  under  the  com¬ 
mand  of  Commodore  Chauncey,  who  was  prepared  to  co-operate  with 
an  expedition  planned  by  General  Dearborn.  On  his  way  to  join  Win¬ 
chester,  Harrison  had  stopped  to  erect  Fort  Meigs,  at  the  rapids  of 
Maumee,  in  north-western  Ohio.89  There,  he  was  soon  besieged  by  two 
thousand  British  and  Indians,  respectively  commanded  by  General 
Proctor  and  by  Tecumseh.  At  length,  General  Green  Clay  with  a 
body  of  Kentucky  troops  came  to  his  relief.  On  the  9th  of  May  the 
British  and  Indians  were  obliged  to  retire.40 

39  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  iii.,  p. 
79.  Under  General  Harrison  served 
a  brave  Irish  Volunteer,  named  Ned 
Blackstock,  whose  family  removed  to 
the  United  States  after  the  Rebellion 
of  1798,  during  which  his  brother 
Sam  was  barbarously  murdered  by  a 
squad  of  the  king’s  troops.  This 
family  gave  name  to  the  town  of 
Blackstock,  where  they  had  settled, 
and  which  was  situated  on  the  line 
between  Chester  and  Fairfield  Coun¬ 
ties,  in  South  Carolina. — Charleston 
News  and  Courier. 

49  See  the  “Annual  Register  -  for 


33  See  James,  chap,  viii.,  pp.  109 
to  207,  and  Cooper,  Vol.  ii. ,  chap, 
xii.,  pp.  227  to  230. 

34  See  Richard  Hildreth’s  “Life  of 
General  William  Henry  Harrison,” 
1839,  18mo. 

35  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  vi.,  pp. 
£60,  561. 

36  See  Alison’s  “  History  of  Europe,” 
Vol.  x.,  chap,  lxxvi.,  pp.  685,  686. 

37  See  General  John  Armstrong’s 
“War  of  1812,”  Vol.  i.,  p.  67. 

38  See  the  “  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1813,  Vol.  lv..  General  His¬ 
tory  chap,  xvi.,  pp.  179,  180. 


OPERATIONS  UNDER  GENERAL  IIARRISON.  315 

With  the  army  of  the  centre  comprising  1,700  men,  General  Dear- 
crossed  Lake  Ontario  in  the  spring,  on  board  fourteen  armed 
vessels.41  His  object  was  to  capture  York,  now  known  as  Toronto,  in 
Upper  Canada.  The  English  then  were  under  the  command  of  General 
Sheaffe,  who  was  soon  obliged  to  fall  back  on  that  town.  General  Pike  led 
the  assault,  while  the  American  flotilla  under  Chauncey  had  worked  its 
way  into  the  harbour.42  The  town  was  taken  by  the  Americans,  on  the 
27th  of  April ;  but  before  retreating  on  Kingston,  the  British  blew  up 
their  magazine.43  Pike  and  two  hundred  of  his  men  were  killed  by  that 
explosion.  The  British  burnt  a  large  ship  on  the  stocks  and  a  quantity 
of  naval  stores,  while  the  Americans  carried  off  three  hundred  prisoners. 
About  an  equal  number  were  killed  on  either  side  in  that  action.44 

A  powerful  English  fleet,  under  Sir  John  Borlase  Warren,  had  been 
despatched  to  create  a  diversion  on  the  eastern  coast  of  America  ;  and 
so  vigilantly  was  the  blockade  maintained,  that  trade  and  commerce  of 
theUnited  Slates  were  greatly  restricted,  with  enormous  loss  to  the  public 
revenues.45  With  a  light  squadron,  Admiral  Sir  George  Cockburn  arrived 
on  the  3rd  of  March,  and  he  made  various  descents  on  the  shores  along 
the  Delaware  River  and  on  Chesapeake  Bay.46  A  land  force  under 
Sir  Sydney  Beckwith  was  directed  to  co-operate.  A  succession  of  raids 
then  ensued.  A  large  depot  of  stores  was  captured  at  P’renchtown,  on 
the  Elk  River.  On  the  3rd  of  May,  Havre  de  Grace  in  Maryland  was 
burned  by  the  British  blockading  vessels.47  Yet,  these  raids  were  not 
attended  with  any  marked  advantage  to  the  invaders.  An  attack  was 
made  on  Norfolk,  but  the  assailants  were  repulsed.  June  22nd.  On  the 
24th  an  attack  on  Craney  Island  failed  ;  but,  on  the  26th  of  that  month, 
Admiral  Cockburn  and  Sir  Sydney  Beckwith  took  Hampton,43  with  the 
guns  in  its  batteries.  On  the  12th  of  July,  Admiral  Warren  captured 
two  fine  brigs,  the  Anaconda  and  Atlas,  in  Ocracoke  harbour,49  North 
Carolina.50  Again,  on  the  10th  of  August,  the  British  attacked  St. 
Michael’s,  Maryland.  However,  they  were  then  defeated.  On  the  14th 
of  August,  Queenstown  in  Maryland  was  taken  by  the  British  An 
American  squadron  of  frigates  had  put  to  sea  from  New  York  ;  how¬ 
ever,  a  British  squadron  of  superior  strength  met  them.  The  frigates 
were  pursued  to  New  London,  and  there  blockaded.51 


the  year  1813.,  Vol.  lv.,  Genera)  His¬ 
tory,  chap,  xvi.,  pp.  181,  182. 

41  See  Alison’s  “  History  of  Europe,” 
Vol.  x.,  chap.  Ixxvi.,  p.  686. 

42  See  General  John  Armstrong’s 
“  War  of  1812,”  Vol.  i.,  pp.  129  to  132. 

43  See  the  “  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1813,  Vol.  lv.,  General  His¬ 
tory,  chap,  xvi.,  p.  180. 

44  See  Christie’s  “  Memoirs  of  the 
War  in  Canada”  pp  74,  75. 

45  See  Alison’s  “History  of  Europe,” 
Vol.  x.,  chap.  Ixxvi.,  pp.  675,  676. 

46  See  William  R.  O’Byrne’s  “  Naval 


Biographical  Dictionary,”  pp.  205,  206. 

47  See  the  “  Annual  Register  for 
the  year  1813,  Vol.  lv..  General  His¬ 
tory,  chap,  xi.,  p.  109. 

43  See  William  R.  O’Byme’s  “  Naval 
Biographical  Dictionary,”  p.  206. 

49  See  Cooper’s  “  History  of  the 
Navy  of  the  United  States  of  Amer¬ 
ica.”  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  xix.,  pp.  312  to  326. 

50  See  “  Annual  Register  ”  for  the 
year  1813,  Vol.  lv.,  General  History, 
chap,  xi.,  pp.  110,  111. 

51  See  Alison’s  “History  of  Europe,” 
Vol.  x.,  chap.  Ixxvi.,  p.*684. 


316 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


\  YA 


The  British  Commander-in-Chief  Sir  George  Prevost  landed  with  & 
thousand  men,  at  the  eastern  end  of  Lake  Ontario,  and  Sir  James 
Lucas  Yeo  52  put  out  with  a  squadron  from  Kingston  harbour,53  to  oo- 
opera  te  in  a  joint  attack  on  Sackett’s  Harbour.  This  assault  was 
made  by  the  British,  on  the  29  th  of  May.  A  New  York  militia  officer 
General  Brown  rallied  a  small  body  of  Volunteers  to  co-operate  with 
a  small  detachment  of  regulars,  and  he  opposed  such  resistance  to  the 
English,  that  they  were  repulsed,  and  retired  to  their  vessels,  leaving 
behind  many  of  their  wounded.54  Conceiving  his  force  inadequate  to 
attempt  further  operations,  Sir  George  Prevost  re-embarked  his 
troops.55 

The  principal  American  army  on  Lake  Ontario  was  about  6,000 
strong  under  General  Dearborn,  while  Commodore  Chauncey  had  a  naval 
force  to  support  him,  in  a  joint  attack  on  Fort  George,56  at  the  western 
extremity  of  the  Lake.  The  British  to  the  number  of  1,000  were 
under  the  command  of  General  Vincent.  After  a  spirited  resistance, 
with  a  loss  of  350  men,  he  blew  up  the  fort,  and  then  retired  to  a  strong 
position  on  Burlington  Heights,  near  the  head  of  the  Lake.57  On  the 
27th  of  May,  Fort  George  and  Fort  Erie  surrendered  to  the  Americans. 
The  British  were  pursued  to  the  Western  end  of  Lake  Ontario,  where 
they  collected  detachments  from  Chippewa,  Fort  Erie  and  other  points, 
to  the  number  of  1,600  men.58  On  their  retreat,  however,  they  turned, 
and  by  night  attacked  General  Chandler  at  Stony  Creek  on  June  6th. 
In  this  engagement,  the  British  lost  150  men.59  The  Americans  ad¬ 
vanced  to  Queenstown,  where  they  mustered  a  force  of  nearly  6,000  on 
the  Niagara  frontier.  On  that  same  day,  the  British  burned  Sodus  town, 
on  Lake  Ontario,  while  they  obtained  some  other  advantages  over  the 
Americans  in  that  quarter.  Enable  to  penetrate  further,  General 
Dearborn  then  retired  to  Fort  George.60  There  he  was  attacked  by  the 
British  ;  but  finding  it  should  be  vain  to  assault  the  place,  General 
Prevost  left  a  force  to  besiege  it,  and  then  returned  to  Kingston.61  This 
campaign  of  General  Dearborn  gave  great  dissatisfaction  to  the  Ameri¬ 
cans.  The  Government  soon  manifested  disapprobation  by  removing 


02  This  officer  had  served  when 
young  under  Admiral  Cosby,  and  had 
distinguished  himself  on  various  sub¬ 
sequent  occasions.  See  Dr.  John 
Campbell’s  “  Naval  History  of  Great 
Britain,”  Vol.  viii.,  pp.  407  to 
409. 

53  See  the  “Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1813,  Vol.  lv.,  General  His¬ 
tory,  chap,  xvi.,  pp.  182,  183. 

54  See  Christie’s  “  Memoirs  of  the 
War  in  Canada,”  pp.  77  to  79. 

55  See  General  John  Armstrong’s 
“War  of  1812,”  Vol.  i.,  pp.  123  to 
147. 

56  See  the  “  Annual  Register  ”  for 


the  year  1813,  Vol.  lv.,  General  His¬ 
tory,  chap,  xvi.,  p.  182. 

57  See  General  John  Armstrong’s 
“War  of  1812,”  Vol.  i.,  pp.  133,  135. 

58  See  Christie’s  “  Memoirs  of  the 
War  in  Canada,”  pp.  75,  76. 

59  They  were  repulsed,  but  the 
American  Generals  Chandler  and 
Winder  were  made  prisoners,  in  the 
confusion  that  followed,  and  it  was 
claimed  as  a  British  victory. 

60  See  the  “  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1813,  Vol.  lv.,  General  His¬ 
tory,  chap,  xvi.,  p.  183. 

61  See  Alison’s  “  History  of  Europe,” 
Vol.  x.,  chap,  lxxvi.,  p.  691. 


ENGAGEMENTS  IN  CANADA. 


317 


him  from  command.  His  place  was  then  filled  by  General  Wilkin¬ 
son,62  whose  antecedents  hardly  fitted  him  for  the  position.03 

So  powerful  was  the  British  naval  force  despatched  against  America 
during  the  spring  and  summer,  that  the  United  States  vessels  were 
blockaded  in  nearly  every  port,  nor  was  there  opportunity  for  the  com¬ 
bats  of  single  ships,  such  as  had  hitherto  occurred.  At  this  time,  how¬ 
ever,  the  Chesapeake  frigate,  then  commanded  by  Captain  James 
Lawrence,  who  had  been  promoted  from  the  Hornet,  was  lying  in  the 
harbour  of  Boston.04  A  British  vessel  of  equal  size,  and  commanded  by 
Captain  Broke,  lay  to  near  the  lighthouse.  The  latter  naval  officer 
challenged  Lawrence  to  come  out  and  meet  him  singly,  while  he  pro¬ 
mised  that  other  British  ships  should  keep  at  a  distance  during  their 
engagement.65  On  a  hasty  notice,  and  not  having  his  full  complement 
of  men  on  board,  Lawrence  set  the  Chesapeake’s  sails,  and  bore  down 
on  his  adversary.  At  half-past  five  o’clock  on  the  1st  of  June,  both 
ships  engaged  within  fifty  yards  of  each  other.  After  exchanging  three 
broadsides,  the  Chesapeake  fell  upon  the  Shannon,  and  the  rigging  of 
both  vessels  was  soon  locked  together  ;  but  early  in  the  action,  the 
English  broadside  had  caused  great  execution  ;  Lawrence  fell  mortally 
wounded,  and  Broke,  seeing  the  American  crew  in  a  state  of  confusion, 
gave  orders  to  board,06  These  were  immediately  executed,  while  only  an 
irregular  and  a  partial  resistance  could  be  offered.  During  the  engage¬ 
ment,  after  being  wounded,  Lawrence  raised  himself  from  the  deck  of 
the  vessel  and  shouted,  “  Comrades,  don’t  give  up  the  ship  !”  The 
Chesapeake  was  captured,  after  an  action  which  lasted  for  only  fifteen 
minutes,  and  when  she  had  lost  a  large  proportion  of  her  officers  and 
crew.67  Captain  Broke  brought  his  prize  into  Halifax,  and  there  Law¬ 
rence  was  buried  with  military  honours.68  The  Shannon  lost  in  killed 
and  wounded  only  83,  while  the  Chesapeake  had  61  killed,  and  106 
wounded.69 


82  He  has  written  a  work  “  Memoirs 
of  my  own  Times,”  in  three  volumes. 
It  was  published  in  Philadelphia, 
1816.  A  “  Review  of  General  Wilk¬ 
inson’s  Memoirs”  was  subsequently 
published  by  General  John  Armstrong. 

63  Although  serving  in  the  Revolu¬ 
tionary  War,  his  character  was  noted 
for  deceit  and  intrigue.  He  was 
strongly  suspected  by  Jackson,  to 
have  been  a  confederate  in  Aaron 
Burr’s  conspiracy.  His  treason  has 
been  pretty  clearly  proved  in  Hum¬ 
phry  Marshall’s  “History  of  Ken¬ 
tucky,”  in  two  vols.,  Frankfort,  Ky., 
1824,  and  the  charges  are  more  fully 
related  in  Charles  Gayarre’s  “  Span¬ 
ish  Domination  in  Louisiana,”  New 
York,  1854. 

64  The  circumstances  that  led  to  the 
succeeding  encounter  are  given  in 


great  detail  by  James,  chap,  ix.,  pp. 
211  to  251. 

65  See  the  “  Annual  Register,”  for 
the  year  1813,  Vol.  lv.,  General  His¬ 
tory,  chap,  xi.,  pp.  108  to  110. 

60  See  C.  D.  Yonge’s  “  History  of 
the  British  Navy,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap, 
xxxvi.,  pp.  313  to  316. 

67  See  Cooper,  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  xvi., 
pp.  284  to  290. 

68  Afterwards,  his  remains  were 
brought  to  New  York,  and  interred 
in  Trinity  Church  Graveyard.  See 
Appleton’s  “Cyclopaedia  of  American 
Biography,”  Vol.  iii.,  pp.  640,  641. 

69  James  states  of  the  prisoners 

taken :  “  The  Chesapeake’s  gunner, 

Matthew  Rogers,  was  an  Irishman ; 
the  carpenter,  George  Miller,  a  native 
of  Nova  Scotia ;  and  there  were  34 
others  of  the  crew  recognised  as  Bri- 


318 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


General  Green  Clay,  who  had  been  left  in  command  at  Fort  Meigs, 
was  attacked  by  General  Proctor  and  by  Tecumseh  with  4,000  men  in 
July.  They  failed,  however,  to  make  any  impression,  and  then  turned 
aside  to  attempt  the  reduction  of  Fbrt  Stevenson,  at  Lower  Sandusky. 
There,  Lieutenant  George  Croghan,70  only  twenty-one  years  of  age,  com¬ 
manded  a  small  garrison  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  men.  He  had  but 
one  mounted  gun.  However,  he  made  a  most  gallant  defence.  Although 
assisted  by  gunboats,  on  the  2nd  of  August,  the  assailants  were  repulsed 
and  with  severe  loss. 

Notwithstanding  the  closeness  of  the  British  blockade,  some  of  the 
American  vessels  had  kept  the  sea.  Among  these  was  the  brig  Argus, 
commanded  by  Captain  Allen,  who  took  a  number  of  prizes  near  the 
English  coast.  His  vessel  created  so  much  alarm,  that  several  cruisers 
were  despatched  in  quest  of  her.  On  the  14th  of  August,  the  British 
man-of-war  Pelican  encountered  her  off  the  harbour  of  Cork,  and  for 
some  time  a  gallant  fight  was  maintained,71  in  which  Captain  Allen  was 
mortally  wounded  before  his  ship  surrendered.  The  United  States  brig 
Enterprise,  Lieutenant  Burrows,  captured  the  British  brig  Boxer  Captain 
Blythe,  on  the  5th  of  September,  after  a  short  action  off  the  coast  of 
Maine.72  Both  of  these  commanders  were  killed,  and  they  are  buried  in 
the  same  grave  at  Portand.  Moreover,  the  frigate  Essex,  commanded  by 
Captain  Porter,  made  a  brilliant  and  successful  cruise  in  the  Pacific,  where 
she  captured  a  number  of  merchant-men  and  several  armed  ships.  She 
inflicted  great  damage,  likewise,  on  the  British  whaling  business,  on  that 
ocean.  The  United  States  frigate  President,  and  the  British  schooner 
Highflyer,  met  on  the  23rd  of  September.  The  latter  was  captured. 
Having  taken  command  of  the  Constitution  m  July  1813,  Captain 
Stewart  sailed  from  Boston,  December  13th,  on  a  cruise  to  the  Guiana 
Coast.  He  had  an  encounter  at  sea,  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of 
the  English  schooner  Picton. 

A  young  master-commandant  Oliver  Hazard  Perry  had  volunteered 
for  service  on  Lake  Erie,  where  his  zeal  and  abilities  were  rewarded  by 
the  appointment  he  ambitioued.  At  Presque  Isle,  now  Erie,  State  of 
Pennsylvania,  he  built  and  launched  several  vessels  with  extraordinary 
energy,  and  in  a  brief  term,  during  the  summer  and  autumn.  He  soon 
equipped  a  fleet  of  ten  sail,  to  cope  with  an  English  flotilla,  under  the 
command  of  Commodore  Barclay. 73  The  latter  had  six  fine  vessels 


tish  subjects.  One  man  was  hanged 
at  Spithead  ;  and  several  were  pardon¬ 
ed.  By  some  mismanagement,  the 
first  named  notorious  traitor  Matthew 
Rogers,  instead  of  being  sent  home 
for  trial,  was  allowed  to  return, 
laughing  in  his  slieve,  to  his  adopted 
country.” — James,  chap.  ix.  p.  238. 

70  His  father  was  Major  William 
Croghan  of  the  Revolution,  of  Irish 
birth,  and  his  mother  was  a  sister  of 
General  George  Rogers  Clark.  He 


was  bom  near  Louisville,  Ky.,  in 
1791,  and  after  a  distinguished  mili¬ 
tary  career  he  died  in  New  Orleans, 
January  8th  1849. 

71  See  “The  American  Navy,  its 
Ships  and  their  Achievements,”  by 
Charles  Morris,  chap.  iii. ,  p.  49. 

72 See  Alison’s  “History  of  Europe,” 
Vol.  x.,  chap,  lxxvi.,  p.  682. 

73  See  the  “  Annual  Register,”  for 
the  year  1813,  Vol.  lv.,  General  His¬ 
tory,  chap,  xvi.,  pp.  187,  188. 


COMMODORE  PERRY’S  VICTORY  OX  LAKE  ERIE.  319 

of  greatly  superior  size  and  weight  of  metal.  However,  the  American 
squadron  under  Commodore  Perry  met  the  opposing  ships  near  the 
western  end  of  the  Lake,  on  the  morning  of  September  10th.  74  An 
engagement  ensued  which  lasted  for  three  hours.  In  his  own  ship  the 
Lawrence,  Perry  bore  the  great  brunt  of  that  attack,  until  she  was  so 
badly  injured  as  to  be  useless.  75  Then,  he  abandoned  her,  and  in  an 
open  boat  rowed  to  the  Niagara  through  the  thick  of  battle.  With 
this  brig  he  sailed  into  the  British  lines,  while  delivering  a  terrible 
broadside  on  right  and  left  as  he  passed.  He  then  turned,  and  at 
short  range,  he  continued  a  deadly  discharge.  Soon  Commodore 
Barclay  fell  dangerously  wounded,  and  his  first  lieutenant  was  killed. 
Then  Commodore  Perry  returned  on  board  the  Lawrence  and  hoisted 
his  colours.  The  two  chief  British  vessels  the  Detroit  and  Queen 
Charlotte  were  at  last  compelled  to  surrender  ;  when  soon  the  smaller 
vessels  followed  such  an  example,  their  united  crews  having  one 
hundred  and  thirty-five  killed  and  wounded.  76  The  Americans  utterly 
destroyed  or  captured  the  British  flotilla,77  which  surrendered.  This 
victory  gave  the  Americans  complete  control  on  Lake  Erie.  78 

Soon  afterwards,  the  squadron  was  employed  to  transport  General 
Harrison’s  troops  to  Canada.  The  British  evacuated  Detroit,  on  the 
28th  of  September,  as  also  Fort  Malden;  these  positions  being  no 
longer  tenable.  The  English  and  their  allies  the  Indians  retreated  up 
the  River  Thames,  which  flows  into  Lake  St.  Clair.79 

Another  very  exasperating  course  of  procedure  was  adopted  by  the 
English  authorities  towards  the  close  of  this  year.  When  some  of  the 
United  States  army  had  been  captured,  an  inquisition  was  made  to  as¬ 
certain  if  any  of  them  had  been  born  as  British  subjects ;  for  the  odious 
and  absurd  doctrine  had  prevailed,  that  once  a  subject  allegiance  could 
not  be  transferred  under  any  circumstances  to  another  nation.  Accord¬ 
ingly  in  October,  about  twenty-three  United  States  soldiers  were  placed 
in  close  confinement  and  sent  to  England,  to  answer  the  charge  of 
treason,  and  of  their  having  been  British  subjects.  The  greater  number 
of  these  happened  to  be  Irishmen.  By  way  of  retaliation,  General 
Dearborn  threatened  to  confine  twenty-three  British  soldiers  as  hostages 
for  their  safety.  To  this  threat  the  Prince  Regent  replied,  that  if  his 
own  subjects  were  condemned  and  executed  for  the  aforesaid  offence, 
and  that  if  the  law  of  retaliation  were  carried  out  by  the  Americans, 
double  the  number  of  their  officers  and  men  in  confinement  should  be 


74  See  James,  for  a  detailed  account 
of  the  preparations  made  for  this 
naval  engagement,  and  the  issue, 
chap,  xii.,  pp.  285  to  295. 

75  See  Cooper,  Yol.  ii.,  chap, 
xxvii.,  pp.  446  to  469. 

76  See  0.  D.  Yonge’s  “History  of 
the  British  Navy,”  Vol.  ii.,  chao. 
xxxvi.,  pp.  327  to  330. 

77  See  Alison’s  “  History  of  Europe/ 


Vol.  x.,  chap.  Ixxvi.,  pp.  692  to  695. 

78  On  obtaining  this  signal  victory, 
Commodore  Perry  wrote  a  brief  des¬ 
patch,  which  he  sent  to  General  Har¬ 
rison  by  a  messenger.  The  words 
were  :  “  We  have  met  the  enemy,  a.nd 
they  are  ours.” 

79  See  John  R.  G.  Hassard’s  “  His¬ 
tory  of  the  United  States  of  America,” 
chap,  xlii.,  pp.  260  to  263. 


320 


IRISII-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


put  to  death,  while  the  war  was  to  be  prosecuted  with  unmitigated 
severity  against  all  cities,  towns  and  villages  in  the  United  Sta.tes.80 
Needless  to  state,  this  barbarous  avowal  was  received  in  a  spirit  of 
indignation  and  defiance,  while  it  lowered  still  more  the  British  Regent 
and  Government  in  the  esteem  of  civilized  Europe. 

It  must  be  remarked,  that  Major-General  Harrison81  had  taken  Mobile 
from  the  Spaniards,  April  12th.82  He  and  General  Andrew  Jackson 
served  the  United  States  with  distinction  during  this  campaign.83  When 
the  former  had  driven  the  English  from  Michigan,  and  his  own  troops 
took  possession  of  it,  he  issued  a  proclamation,  to  re-establi>h  the  civil 
rule  of  that  territory  in  conformity  with  the  Republican  institutions. 
Under  General  Cass,  the  government  was  reorganised.84 

In  the  Spring  of  1813,  Tecumseh  had  visited  the  Creek  Indians  in 
the  south-west,  when  lie  exhorted  them  to  take  up  arms  and  exterminate 
the  whites.  Accordingly,  on  the  30th  of  August,  over  three  hundred 
settlers,  who  sought  refuge  in  Fort  Minims  on  the  Alabama  River, 
were  piteously  massacred,  a  few  only  escaping  to  convey  that  sad 
intelligence  to  some  neighbouring  stations.  Again,  General  Jackson 
marched  into  the  southern  wildness  with  3,500  Tennessee  militia.  He 
was  ably  assisted  by  General  John  Coffee,85  who  with  a  detachment 
encountered  a  large  body  of  Indians  at  Tullushatchie,  where  they  fought 
with  such  desperation,  that  nearly  every  warrior  perished.  However, 
they  occupied  another  strong  position  on  the  Tallapoosa.  While 
the  main, body  of  Jackson’s  force  attacked  their  fort,  Coffee’s  detach¬ 
ment  guarded  the  River  at  Horse-Shoe  Bend  to  prevent  their  escape. 
Driven  from  the  fort  and  opposed  on  the  river  banks,  they  fought  with 
increased  fury  and  contempt  of  death.  Over  six  hundred  were  killed, 
when  four  hundred  yielded  as  prisoners,  and  three  hundred  escaped  in 
flight.  The  militia  lost  fifty-five  killed,  besides  one  hundred  and  forty- 
six  wounded.  On  the  9th  of  November,  General  Jackson  with  1,200 
men  again  defeated  a  large  force  of  the  Creek  Indians,  at  Talladega, 
where  nearly  three  hundred  were  killed.  Here  Colonel  William 
Carroll  bravely  led  the  attack.86  At  Hillabee,  General  White  surprised 


80  See  the  “Annual  Register”  for 
the  year  1813,  Vol.  lv.,  General  His¬ 
tory,  chap,  xvi.,  pp.  190,  191. 

81  He  had  already  given  proof  of 
great  military  talents  as  Commander- 
In-Chief  of  the  American  military 
forces,  in  the  war  of  1811  against 
Indians.  See  Le  Dr.  Hoefer’s  “  Nou- 
velle  Biographie  Generale,”  Tome 
xxiii.,  col.  461. 

82  See  the  “  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1813,  Yol.  lv.,  General  His- 
torv,  chap,  xvi.,  pp.  180,  181. 

See  John  S.  Jenkins’  “  Life  of 
General  Andrew  Jackson,”  Seventh 
President  of  the  United  States,  with 
Appendix:  containing  the  most  im¬ 


portant  of  his  State  Papers,  chap.  iv..  v., 
pp.  55  to  S6.  Auburn,  N.Y.,  1847, 12mo. 

84  See  II.  Montgomery’s  “  Life  of 
Major  General  Harrison,”  Cleveland, 
O.,  1852. 

85  His  father  was  an  Irishman,  and 
he  was  born  in  Prince  Edward 
County,  Va.,  in  June  1772.  In 
October  1809,  he  married  Mary  Donel- 
son,  a  sister  of  Andrew  Jackson’s 
wife  At  the  beginning  of  the  war 
of  1812,  he  raised  a  cavalry  regiment, 
and  so  greatly  distinguished  himself 
in  several  battles,  that  he  was  known 
as  “  brave  Jack  Coffee.”  He  died 
near  Florence,  Ala.,  in  July  1834. 

88  He  was  an  Irish-American,  bom 


GENERAL  JACKSON’S  VICTORIES  OVER  THE  SOUTHERN  INDIANS.  321 

£>  range  of  Indian  towns  ;  while  General  Floyd  from  Georgia,  and  the 
Governor  of  Alabama,  General  Claiborne,  gained  considerable 
advantages  over  the  Red  Men.87 

Meanwhile,  Major-General  Harrison  had  moved  a  force  of  3,500  up 
the  River  Thames,  and  he  entered  Amhertsburg  without  resistance, 
General  Proctor  retiring  with  1,300  troops  before  him.  At  Moravian 
Town  Upper  Canada,  on  the  5th  October,  the  Americans  overtook  the 
British  and  Indians,  who  there  made  a  stand.88  This  has  been  some¬ 
times  called  the  battle  of  the  Thames,  because  the  river  flanked  the 
British  position  on  one  side,  while  a  wood  was  on  the  other.  Little 
resistance  was  offered,  however,  when  Colonel  Richard  M.  Johnson89  at 
the  head  of  the  Kentucky  Mounted  Volunteers  charged  the  British 
and  Indians  in  front.  Their  troops  soon  fell  into  confusion.  Throwing 
down  their  arms  they  surrendered,  General  Proctor  and  his  staff  having 
turned  in  flight  and  made  their  escape.  About  seventy  were  killed  in 
the  onset,  while  six  hundred  were  made  prisoners.  The  Indians  fought 
much  better  than  their  disciplined  allies.  In  this  battle,  however,  the 
Indian  Chief  Tecumseh,  was  killed.  Then  his  forces  scattered  in 
various  directions.90 

A  part  of  the  British  squadron  on  Lake  Ontario  was  captured  by  the 
Americans  in  October.  Then,  Commodore  Chauncey  had  complete 
control  of  its  waters,  and  that  circumstance  was  regarded  as  most 
opportune  for  an  expedition  of  importance  and  conceived  on  an 
extensive  scale.  Nevertheless,  misunderstanding  and  want  of  timely  co 
operation  or  concentration,  between  the  American  leaders  and  their 
respective  forces,  led  only  to  disappointment  and  mutual  recrimination. 
Intending  to  capture  Montreal,  General  Wilson  had  arranged  to 
move  down  the  St.  Lawrence  in  boats  with  8,000  men,  and  he  expected 
General  Wade  Hamilton  with  a  supporting  force  of  6,000  to  advance 
from  Lake  Champlain.91  At  the  end  of  October,  the  latter  came  up 
with  a  British  advanced  guard  of  1,000  men,  commanded  by  Colonels 
Salaberry  and  M‘Donnell.  These  were  strongly  posted  on  the  River 
Chateauguay.  Having  in  his  assault  on  attacking  them  October  26  th 
withdrawn  his  troops,  Hampton  retreated  upon  Plattsburg.92  Mean¬ 
time,  having  rendezvoused  at  the  eastern  extremity  of  Lake  Ontario, 
Wilkinson  embarked  his  forces  in  boats  and  began  to  descend  the  River 
St.  Lawrence.  Colonel  Morrison  with  a  British  land-force  hovered 


in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  in  1788.  He  died 
in  Nashville  Tenn.,  March  22nd  1844. 

87  See  Hugh  Murray’s  “United 
States  of  America,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap, 
iv.,  p.  197. 

88  See  the  “  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1813,  Vol.  lv.,  General  His¬ 
tory,  chap,  xvi.,  p.  188. 

8*J  Afterwards  Vice-President  of  the 
United  States,  born  in  Bryant’s 
Station  Ky.,  in  1781.  Having  served 
his  country,  both  in  a  civic  and  a 


military  capacity,  he  died  in  Frank¬ 
fort  Ky.,  November  19th  1850.  See 
Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of  American 
Biography,”  Vol.  iii.,  pp.  443,  444. 

90  See  John  R.  G.  Hassard’s  “  His¬ 
tory  of  the  United  States  of  Amer¬ 
ica,”  chap,  xlii.,  p.  263. 

91  See  Hugh  Murray’s  “United 
States  of  America,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap, 
iv.,  pp.  192,  193. 

92  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Voi,  iii.,  p.  69. 

Y 


322 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


along  the  banks,  and  considerably  harassed  the  flotilla.  To  oppose 
them,  General  Brown  landed  with  a  large  body  of  troops.  An 
indecisive  battle  was  fought  near  Williamsburg  in  Canada,  on  the  11th 
November,  between  the  British  and  Americans.  Then  the  latter 
re-embarked  and  continued  their  voyage.  Soon  intelligence  reached 
them  of  Hampton’s  retreat.  Thus  disconcerted,  and  Hampton  failing 
to  meet  him  as  required,  Wilkinson  abandoned  the  attempt  to  reach 
Montreal.93  He  then  returned  into  winter  quarters,  near  St.  Regis  on 
the  St.  Lawrence. 

Meantime,  to  carry  on  the  operations  against  Lower  Canada,  the 
Americans  had  greatly  reduced  their  forces  on  the  Niagara  frontier. 
Thither  Sir  James  Yeo  had  conveyed  reinforcements,  and  General 
Vincent  had  resolved  on  hostile  movements.  On  the  2nd  of  December, 
the  British  despatched  an  expedition,  and  burned  the  public  stores  at 
Cumberland  Head  on  Lake  Champlain. 

The  danger  of  a  Canadian  invasion  having  been  removed,  Colonel 
Murray  advanced  with  a  strong  British  force  from  Kingston.94  The 
small  American  garrison  under  General  McClure95  at  Fort  George,  now 
untenable,  was  attacked  by  the  British.  General  Vincent  having  pushed 
on  to  Newport,  the  place  was  evacuated  by  McClure,  and  he  reduced  it 
to  ashes.  The  orders  received  from  Government  were,  to  abandon  Fort 
George,  and  to  have  the  garrison  removed  to  Fort  Niagara  ;  while  the 
exposed  part  of  the  frontier  was  to  be  protected,  by  destroying  such 
.  Canadian  villages  in  its  front,  as  might  best  shelter  the  enemy  during  the 
winter.96  The  Americans  were  driven  across  the  Niagara  River  on  the 
12th  of  December.97  Colonel  Murray  then  passed  over  with  a  considerable 
opposing  force.  On  the  1 8th  of  December,  the  British  and  Indians  sur¬ 
prised  Fort  Niagara,98  and  there  they  captured  a  large  quantity  of  arms 
and  stores.  Immediately  afterwards,  they  attacked  a  body  of  Ameri¬ 
cans,  who  were  discharging  red-hot  shot  against  Queenstown,  and  defeated 
them.  They  killed  250  of  the  Americans. 

A  large  British  contingent  then  crossed  the  Channel  under  General 
Drummond  and  Riall  to  Blackrock,  which  was  stormed.  The  fugitives 
were  pursued  to  Buffalo,  where  the  American  General  Hall  had  assem¬ 
bled  two  thousand  men  to  defend  that  rising  town.  On  the  28th  of 
December,  Buffalo  was  taken  and  burned  ;  all  the  naval  establishments 
there  and  at  Blackrock  were  destroyed  ;  while  the  Indians,  let  loose  on 
the  surrounding  country,  took  ample  vengeance,  it  was  asserted,99  for 


93  See  the  “  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1813,  Vol.  lv.,  General  His¬ 
tory,  chap,  xvi.,  pp.  188  to  190. 

94  See  Alison’s  “  History  of  Europe.” 
Vol.  x.,  chap,  lxxvi.,  p.  669. 

95  He  was  born  near  Londonderry 
Ireland  in  1771,  and  he  died  in  Elgin, 
Ill.,  August  16th  1851. 

96  See  General  John  Armstrong’s 
“  War  of  1812,”  Vol.  i.,  p.  20. 


See  the  “  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1813,  Vol.  lv.,  General  His¬ 
tory,  chap,  xvi.,  p.  190. 

- 98  See  Benson  J.  Lossing’s  “Pic¬ 
torial  Field-Book  -of  the  American 
Revolution,”  Vol.  i.,  chap.  X.,  p. 
226. 

99  By  Sir  George  Prevost,  in  “  a 
noble  proclamation  ”  which  was  soon 
afterwards  issued.  Such  are  the  ex- 


m/s 


FAILURE  OF  GENERAL  WILKINSON’S  EXPEDITION.  323 

the  conflagration  of  Newark.  A  number  even  of  women  and  children 
in  the  neighbourhood  were  massacred.  On  the  29th  of  December,  the 
villages  of  Lewistown,  Youngtown,  Manchester,  and  Tuscarora,  in  New 
York  State,  were  burned  by  the  British  while  the  inhabitants  were  left 
completely  defenceless.  This  inhuman  species  of  warfare  created  in¬ 
tense  indignation  and  disgust  throughout  the  United  States.  How¬ 
ever,  such  desultory  raids  and  conflicts,  causing  only  private  losses  of 
life  and  injuries  to  property,  led  to  no  important  results  on  either  side 
of  the  St.  Lawrence  during  the  course  of  this  year. 

Several  naval  engagements  took  place,  meanwhile,  between  ships  of 
the  rival  nations.  The  results  were  surprisingly  in  favour  of  America  ; 
while  numerous  vessels  were  captured  by  her  seamen,  and  even  priva¬ 
teers  sailed  from  her  ports,  to  have  a  share  in  those  maritime  enter¬ 
prises.  On  the  20th  of  April,  the  British  frigate  Orpheus  of  36  guns, 
with  the  schooner  Shelbourne  in  company,  captured  the  American 
sloop  of  war  Frolic,  of  22  guns,  after  an  exciting  chase,100  On  the  29th 
April,  the  United  States  sloop  of  war  Peacock  Captain  Warrington101 
captured  the  British  brig  L’Epervier  Captain  Wales,  off  the  coast  of 
Florida,  after  an  engagement  lasting  45  minutes.102  The  United  States 
sloop  of  war  Wasp  Captain  Johnston  Blakeley103  captured  the  British 
sloop  of  war  Reindeer  Captain  Manners  June  28th.  The  two  vessels, 
meeting  in  the  British  Channel,  were  locked  together  yard-arm  and  yard¬ 
arm.  For  twenty-five  minutes,  the  action  was  maintained  with  great 
resolution.  In  two  attempts  to  board,  the  British  were  lepulsed. 
Having  lost  her  captain,  purser,  with  27  men  killed  and  40  wounded, 
the  Reindeer  was  obliged  to  strike  her  colours.104  The  Wasp  had  11 
killed  and  15  wounded.105  For  their  gallantry  in  this  action,  the  Pre¬ 
sident  and  Congress  presented  medals  and  swords  to  Captain  Blakeley 
and  his  crew.  After  remaining  eighteen  days  at  L’Orient,  the  Wasp 
refitted  and  sailed  from  that  port.  On  the  30th  of  August,  she  cap¬ 
tured  the  British  brig  Lettice,  Henry  Cockbain  master,  and  on  the 
31st  the  brig,  Bon  Accord,  Adam  Durno  master.  Next  she  fell  in 
with  a  convoy  of  ten  sail,  in  charge  of  the  Armada,  a  ship  of  74  guns, 


pressions  of  Alison,  4n  his  “History 
of  Europe,”  Vol.  x.,  chap,  lxxvi.,  pp,, 
700,  701. 

100  See  James,  chap,  xiv.,  pp.  334 
to  338. 

101  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  vi.,  pp. 
368,  369. 

102  See  James,  chap,  xv.,  pp.  341  to 
350.  Also,  Appendix,  No.  76,  for 
Captain  Warrington’s  account  of  the 
action,  pp.  cxxix.,  exxx. 

103  He  was  bom  near  Seaford, 
County  of  Down,  Ireland,  in  1781, 
and  at  a  very  early  age,  with  his 
father  John,  emigrated  to  the 


United  States.  He  obtained  a 
midshipman’s  warrant,  February  6th 
1800.  In  1807,  he  was  made  lieu¬ 
tenant,  and  in  1813,  he  commanded 
the  brig  Enterprise.  That  same  year, 
in  August,  he  was  promoted  as  com¬ 
mander  of  the  Wasp.  See  Apple¬ 
ton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Bio- 
graphv,”*Vol.  i.,  pp.  286,  287. 

'“4See  the  “Annual  Register”  for 
the  year  1814,  Vol.  lvi.  General 
History,  chap,  xv.,  p.  174. 

103  See  James,  chap,  xv.,  pp.  354 
to  360.  For  Captain  Blakeley’s  de¬ 
tailed  account  of  this  action,  see  Ap¬ 
pendix,  Nos.  <8,  79,  pp.  cxxxi.  t-o 
cxxxiv. 


324  IRISH -AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

as  also  a  bomb-sliip.  Captain  Blakeley  succeeded  in  cutting  out  and 
capturing  the  British  brig  Mary,  John  D.  Allan  master.  On  the  night 
of  September  1st,  having  escaped  the  Armada,  the  Wasp  fell  in  with 
the  brig  Avon,  Captain  the  Hon.  J.  Arbuthnot,  and  an  action  ensued 
which  lasted  43  minutes,  when  the  British  vessel  surrendered,  and  she 
sank  immediately  afterwards.106  That  same  year,  the  Wasp,  its  gallant 
captain  and  crew,  were  lost  during  a  cruise,  and  no  trace  of  them  was 
ever  obtained.107 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


Discontent,  of  the  Peace  Party  at  the  Continuation  of  the  War — Renewal  of  the 
Canadian  Invasion — Operations  under  General  Brown — Battles  at  Plattsburg 
and  on  Lake  Champlain — Propositions  for  a  Peace — Campaign  in  the  South — 
Great  Victory  of  General  Jackson  at  New  Orleans — Treaty  for  Peace  rati¬ 
fied — Commodore  Stewart’s  brilliant  Victory  at  Sea,  and  Closing  of  the  War. 


Meanwhile,  the  ineffectiveness  of  their  plans,  the  want  of  concert 
between  their  generals,  the  blockade  of  their  harbours,  the  stoppage  of 
their  foreign  trade  and  the  consequent  failure  of  their  customs,  had 
necessitated  large  loans  and  a  variety  of  taxes,  on  the  part  of  the 
Americans,  to  provide  for  their  war  expenditure.  Hitherto,  they  had 
been  in  a  great  measure  relieved  from  such  burdens,  and  from  debts  so 
familiar  to  the  people  of  the  older  European  Nations  ;x  and  as  those 
direct  and  excise  taxes  fell  most  heavily  on  the  New  England  and 
Eastern  States,  so  a  vigorous  agitation  was  then  resumed  by  the  Peace 
Party.  Discontent  at  its  continuance  in  the  North  was  openly  and 
strongly  expressed,  while  the  dissolution  of  the  Union  was  even  threat¬ 
ened,  at  some  public  meetings.  This  agitation  led  to  a  repeal  of  the 
embargo  and  non-importation  Acts  in  1814.  However,  the  great 
European  war  was  then  at  an  end,  between  the  allied  armies  and  the 
Emperor  Napoleon.2  The  English  were  now  left  free,  to  send  all  their 


106  In  this,  as  in  the  previous 
action,  Captain  Blakeley  greatly  ex¬ 
tols  the  merits  of  Lieutenant  Reilly, 
Tillinghast,  Bury,  and  sailing-master 
Carr.  See  ibid.  Appendix,  Nos.  87, 
88,  pp.  cli.  to  civ. 

101  See  Cooper,  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  xx., 
pp.  231  to  344. 

1  The  following  statement  gives  an 
idea  of  the  degree  to  which  the  Na¬ 
tional  Debt  of  England  had  increased  : 
“  In  the  year  1792,  the  last  complete 
year  of  peace,  the  debt  of  Great  Bri¬ 
tain  had  amounted  to  £237,400,000 ; 
the  debt  of  Ireland  to  about 
£2,250,000^  The  entire  debt  of  the 
United  Kingdom  only  slightly  ex¬ 


ceeded  £239,650,000.  In  1815,  the 
last  year  of  the  war,  the  capital  of 
the  debt  of  Great  Britain  amounted 
to  about  £834,360,000 ;  the  capital  of 
the  Irish  debt  exceeded  £26,770,000. 
The  entire  debt  of  the  United  King¬ 
dom  reached  £861,000,000.  The 
debt  in  1792  imposed  a  charge  of 
£9,301,000  on  Great  Britain,  and 
£131,000  on  Ireland.  The  charge  of 
the  debt  in  1815  had  risen  (without 
the  sinking  fund)  to  £32,645,618.” — 
Spencer  Walpole’s  “History  of  Eng¬ 
land  from  the  Conclusion  of  the  Great 
War  in  1815,”  Vol.  i„  chap,  i.,  p. 
28.  London,  1878,  et  seq.  8vo. 

2  The  reader  who  desires  to  have  a 


DISCONTENT  OP  THE  PEACE  PARTY.  325 

disposable  military  and  naval  forces  against  the  Americans.  On  the 
25th  of  April,  the  British  Government  declared  all  the  ports  north  and 
south  of  New  York  to  be  in  a  state  of  blockade.3  Such  a  proclamation 
effectively  destroyed  the  hopes  of  the  Peace  party  to  procure  an  accom¬ 
modation,  and  even  strengthened  the  United  States  Government  in 
their  efforts  to  prosecute  the  war. 

Having  taken  two  prizes,  the  American  frigate  Essex,  Captain 
Porter,  equipping  one  of  these  armed  with  twenty  guns  and  sixty  men, 
had  been  run  into  the  port  of  Valparaiso  in  South  America,  on  the  9th 
of  February,  by  the  British  frigate  Phoebe,  Captain  Hillvar,  supported 
by  the  Cherub  brig.4  A  close  blockade  of  three  weeks  followed,  during 
which  Captain  Porter  made  various  foiled  attempts  to  escape,  without 
the  aid  of  his  iesser  consort.  On  the  28th  of  that  month,  the  Essex  was 
brought  to  action  in  the  roads,  and  with  the  utmost  gallantry  her  com¬ 
mander  maintained  an  unequal  contest,5  the  Phcebe  exchanging  broad¬ 
sides  with  his  vessel,  and  the  Cherub  raking  her  decks.  Soon  the 
carnage  on  board  the  Essex  was  frightful ;  twice  did  the  vessel  take 
fire;  and  with  a  loss  of  58  killed  and  94  wounded,  after  an  action 
lasting  forty  minutes,  Captain  Porter  was  obliged  to  haul  down  his 
flag.6  The  British  loss  was  very  trifling,  only  five  killed  and  ten  wounded. 
Nearly  one  hundred  British  seamen  were  on  board  the  American 
vessel  when  the  action  commenced ;  but  just  as  their  vessel  was  about 
to  surrender  the  survivors  jumped  overboard,  and  of  these  forty  reached 
the  shore  by  swimming,  thirty-one  were  drowned,  while  sixteen  were 
picked  up  when  on  the  point  of  perishing.  All  of  these  men  had 
anticipated  summary  execution  had  they  fallen  into  the  hands  of  their 
victors. 

During  the  winter  of  1813-14,  the  Canadian  Houses  of  Assembly 
made  great  efforts  to  augment  their  military  force  to  the  number  of 
8,000  men,7  while  their  chief  towns  subscribed  large  sums  to  aid  the 
transmission  of  troops.  The  Indians  were  stimulated,  likewise,  to  renew 
the  war.8  By  land,  no  considerable  movement  was  attempted  on  either 
side,  uniil  the  American  General  Wilkinson  collected  a  large  force 
from  Platsburg  and  Burlington,  on  Lake  Champlain.  With  this  body 
of  men,  he  marched  against  the  Canadian  outposts.  On  the  30th  of 
March  1814,  a  battle  was  fought  at  La  Colie  Mills,  between  the 
Americans  under  Wilkinson  and  the  British  under  Hancock.  The 
attack  was  not  successful,  and  in  that  engagement  the  Americans  lost 


comprehensive  and  clear  narrative  of 
those  incidents  which  led  to  that 
result,  during  the  closing  months  of 
1813,  and  the  spring  of  1814,  may 
find  the  statement  in  M.  A.  Thiers’ 
“  Histoire  du  Consulat  et  de  l’Em- 
pire,”  Tome  xvii.,  Liv.  li.,  lii.,  liii. 

3  See  Alison’s  “  History  of  Europe,” 
Vol.  x.,  chap,  lxxvi.,  p.  710. 

*  See  James,  chap,  xiii.,  pp.,  305  to  320. 


5  See  the  “  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1814,  Vol.  lvi.,  General  His¬ 
tory,  chap,  xv.,  pp.  173,  174. 

6  See  Cooper,  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  xv., 
pp.  255  to  272. 

7  See  Alison’s  “  History  of  Europe,” 
Vol.  v.,  chap,  lxxvi.,  p.  712. 

8  See  Christie’s  “  Memoirs  of  the 
War  in  Canada,”  pp.  117  to  122. 


326 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


138  men,  while  the  British  loss  was  only  56.  In  Upper  Canada,  General 
Drummond  and  Sir  James  Yeo  combined  an  attack  by  land  and  water 
on  Fort  Oswego,  situated  near  the  Lake  so  called.  This  place  was  captured 
by  the  British  on  the  4th  of  May.  Afterwards,  Sackett’s  Harbour  was 
closely  blockaded.  On  the  31st,  Captain  Pophara  attempted  to  destroy 
the  American  flotilla  in  Sandy  Creek,  with  200  seamen  and  marines. 
These  hoped  to  capture  a  considerable  quantity  of  naval  and  military 
stores.  However,  they  were  repulsed  by  more  numerous  forces,  having 
lost  70  men  during  the  attack.9 

The  Americans  had  concentrated  forces  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Buffalo,  and  these  were  destined  for  another  inroad  on  Upper  Canada. 
Two  strong  brigades  were  there  posted,  under  the  command  of  General 
Ripley.10  It  was  known  that  a  large  proportion  of  Canadians  had  sympa¬ 
thised  in  the  American  efforts  to  wrest  their  country  from  the  British 
dominion.11  The  former  Hew  York  militia  general  Brown12  had  been 
created  Major-General  in  the  regular  army,  and  during  the  summer  of 
1814,  he  had  sought  and  obtained  permission  to  attempt  anew  the  invasion 
of  Canada.  With  live  thousand  men,  the  Americans  crossed  the  Niagara 
River  below  the  Falls,  on  the  3rd  June.  Without  firing  a  single  shot, 
Fort  Erie  was  capi  u  ed  by  them,  with  its  garrison  of  170  men. 
Having  thus  easily  effected  a  landing,  General  Ripley  advanced  to  the 
neighbourhood  of  Clnppewa,  where  General  Riall  had  collected  a  force 
of  1,500  regular  troops,  with  a  contingent  of  1,000  militia  and  a  body 
of  Indians.  These  had  occupied  an  entrenched  camp.  Notwithstand¬ 
ing,  the  British  soldiers  advanced  to  commence  the  action  at  5  o’clock 
in  the  afternoon  June  5th,  by  sending  the  militia  and  Indians  forward 
to  encounter  the  Kentucky  Rifles,  who  soon  dispersed  them.  Then  the 
main  body  consisting  of  the  King’s  Royal  Scots  and  the  100th  regiments, 
with  their  militia,  advanced  in  column,  the  Americans  receiving  them 
in  line  with  great  steadiness  and  with  a  most  destructive  discharge.  At 
Chippewa  this  battle  was  fought  and  with  great  resolut.jii,  the  British 
being  commanded  by  General  Riall.  The  American  advance  was  led  by 
Brigadier-General  Scott,  and  when  their  enemy  deployed  in  a  bayonet 
charge  of  the  11th  Infantry,  led  by  Major  John  McNeill,13  the  Eng¬ 
lish  loss  was  so  serious,  that  their  General  felt  constrained  to  draw  them 


9  See  John  Armstrong’s  “War  of 
1212,”  Vol.  ii.,  pp.  63  to  74. 

10  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  v.,  p.  258. 

1 1  A  number  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Upper  Canada  had  been  arrested  for 
high  treason,  and  were  tried  on  that 
charge  in  the  month  of  May,  when 
fifteen  were  convicted,  and  out  of 
these  eight  were  executed  at  Burling¬ 
ton  in  the  district  of  Niagara,  on 
July  12th.  See  the  “  Annual  Regis¬ 
ter  ”  for  the  year  1814,  Vol.  lvi.. 
General  History,  chap,  xvi.,  p.  183. 


12  On  the  19th  of  July  1813,  he 
was  appointed  Brigadier-General  in 
the  regular  army,  and  on  the  24th  of 
January  1814,  he  was  placed  in  com¬ 
mand  of  the  army  at  Niagara. 

13  Of  Irish  descent.  He  was  born 
in  Hillsborough  N.H.,  in  1784,  and 
for  this  gallant  action  he  was  Brevet- 
ted  Lieutenant- Colonel.  He  after¬ 
wards  attained  higher  military  and 
civic  distinctions,  and  he  died  in 
Washington  D.C.,  February  23rd 
1850. 


RENEWAL  OF  THE  CANADIAN  INVASION.  327 


to  their  entrenched  camp.  The  British  lost  550  men  in  this  engagement. 
The  Americans  proved  victorious,  with  a  loss  of  300  men.  Afterwards, 
General  Riall  retreated  to  Burlington  Heights,  at  the  western  end  of 
Lake  Ontario,  and  Queenstown  was  occupied  by  the  Americans.14 

Meantime,  some  transports  had  arrived  at  Queenstown,  conveying  a 
large  contingent  of  veteran  troops,  who  had  served  under  Lord  Wellington 
during  the  Peninsular  war.1£  Soon  Lieutenant-General  Drummond 
arrived  with  a  reinforcement.  The  British  under  General  Riall 
had  again  advanced,  but  they  were  once  more  compelled  to  retreat. 
They  encountered  General  Brown  at  Bridgwater,  near  the  Falls.  Then 
General  Drummond  drew  up  his  lines  in  order  of  battle.  A  gallant 
attack  was  led  against  them  by  Scott,  about  sunset  on  the  25th  of  July, 
although  the  Americans  were  inferior  in  point  of  numbers.  The  battle 
was  fought  with  great  obstinacy  for  three  hours,  yet  without  consider¬ 
able  advantage  gained  by  either  side.  Then  there  was  an  intermission, 
during  which  the  Americans  were  engaged  in  bringing  up  reinforce¬ 
ments  to  drive  the  British  from  those  heights  on  which  they  were 
posted.  Both  armies  had  met  at  a  place  called  Lundy  Lane,  and  the 
contest  lasted  till  midnight,  A  battery  was  gallantly  captured  by 
Colonel  James  Miller,16  which  decided  the  fortune  of  the  day  in  favour 
of  the  Americans.  Both  Brown17  and  Scott  were  severely  wounded. 
The  Americans  lost  743  men,  and  the  British  878.1S  It  seemed  to  be 
a  drawn  battle  ;  the  victory  being  claimed  both  by  the  British  and  by  the 
Americans.  The  latter  however  were  left  in  possession  of  the  field. 
The  American  commander  Ripley,  having  charge  of  their  troops,  re¬ 
tired  the  next  day  to  Fort  Erie,  where  General  Gaines1*’  assumed  the 
chief  command.  On  the  1st  of  August,  Drummond  laid  siege  to  Fort 
Erie,  which  was  obstinately  defended.  In  a  vain  attempt  to  take  the 
place  by  a  night  assault  on  the  15th,  the  British  lost  nearly  1,000  men, 
When  General  Brown  recovered  from  his  wounds  the  following  month, 
he  assumed  command.  Making  a  vigorous  sortie,  he  destroyed  the 
British  works,  and  captured  four  hundred  prisoners.  General  Drum¬ 
mond  then  abandoned  the  siege.  Afterwards,  on  the  5  th  of  November 
blowing  up  that  fort,  the  Americans  retired  beyond  the  river. 

While  these  operations  were  carried  on  beyond  the  Atlantic,  attempts 
had  been  made  for  the  restoration  of  peace  in  Europe.  Under  the  me¬ 
diation  of  Russia,  the  Americans  offered  to  treat,  but  this  proposition 
was  declined  by  the  British  Government,  Later  still  it  was  arranged, 


14  See  John  Armstrong’s  “War  of 
1812,”  Vol.  ii.,  pp.  88,  89. 

15  See  the  “Annual  Register”  for 
the  year  1814,  Vol.  lvi.,  General  His¬ 
tory,  chap,  xvi.,  p.  182. 

16  He  descended  from  the  original 
Irish  settlers  of  New  Hampshire  and 
he  was  born  in  Peterborough,  N.H., 
April  25th  1776.  He  died  in  Temple, 
N.H.,  July  7th  1851.  When  asked 
by  General  Scott,  if  he  could  take  the 


battery,  his  modest  reply  was  “  I 
will  try,  Sir.” 

17  See  an  account  of  him  in  Apple- 
ton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Bio¬ 
graphy,”  Vol.  i.,  p.  401. 

'®See  the  “Annual  Register”  for 
the  year  1814,  Vol.  lvi.,  General  His¬ 
tory,  chap,  xvi.,  pp.  182,  183. 

19  See  an  account  of  him  in  Apple- 
ton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Bio¬ 
graphy,”  Vol.  ii.,  pp.  571,  572. 


328 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


that  Gottenburg  should  be  the  place  for  Commissioners  of  both  con¬ 
tending  powers  to  assemble ;  but  afterwards,  circumstances  produced  a 
change  in  favour  of  Ghent,  On  the  30th  July,  the  British  Government 
appointed  as  their  Commissioners  Admiral  Lord  Gam  bier,20  Henry 
Goulbourn,21  and  William  Adams  to  treat  on  propositions  for  peace  with 
the  United  States.  Those  plenipotentiaries  arrived  at  Ghent,  August 
6th.  Already  in  that  city  the  American  Commissioners  selected  to 
arrange  a  treaty  had  met.  These  were — John  Quincy  Adams,22  Albert 
Gallatin,23  James  A.  Bayard,24  Henry  Clay,25  and  Jonathan  Russell.26 
The  conditions  presented  by  the  British  Commissioners,  as  a  basis  for 
negotiation,  were  deemed  inadmissible ;  and  accordingly,  the  American 
plenipotentiaries  did  not  hesitate  to  give  a  decided  and  an  unanimous 
negative  to  their  demands.  The  proceedings  were  laid  before  the  Ameri¬ 
can  Congress  on  the  11th  of  October  by  the  President,  and  an  equal 
Unanimity  prevailed  in  both  houses  for  their  rejection.27 

Joined  by  a  squadron  under  Admiral  Cochrane,  a  formidable  British 
fleet  comprising  between  fifty  and  sixty  sail  arrived  during  the  month  of 
August  in  the  Chesapeake,  and  directed  by  Rear  Admiial  Cockburn.28  On 
the  25th  of  April,  he  had  proclaimed  a  blockade  of  the  whole  American 
coast.  A  land  army,  destined  for  co-operation  and  amounting  to  5,000 
men  under  the  command  of  Major-General  Robert  Ross,29  sailed  in 
transport  vessels  from  Bermuda  on  the  3rd  of  August,  and  those  forces 
were  disembarked  on  the  Patuxent  River,  at  St.  Benedict’s  about  fifty 
miles  from  Washington,  on  the  19th  of  that  month.30  While  a  part  of 
their  fleet  ascended  the  Potomac,  his  army  marched  towards  the  capital.31 
An  American  militia  had  assembled  at  Bladensbur'g,  about  six  miles  from 
that  city.  It  was  commanded  by  General  Winder.  A  few  marines, 
directed  by  Commodore  Barney,  and  some  artillery  had  been  drawn  to 


20  See  an  account  of  him  in  Rolfe's 
“Naval  Biography,”  Vol.  ii.,  p.  82. 

21  See  Leslie  Stephen’s  and  Sidney 
Lee’s  “Dictionary  of  National  Bio¬ 
graphy,”  Vol.  xxii.,  pp.  283  to  285. 

22  See  William  H.  Seward’s  “  Life 
and  Public  Services  of  John  Quincy 
Adams.”  Auburn,  N.Y.,  1859,  8vo. 

23  See  the  “Life  and  Writings  of 
Albert  Gallatin,”  edited  by  Henry 
Adams.  Philadelphia,  1879. 

24  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  i.,  pp. 
196,  197. 

23  See  Epes  Sargent’s  “  Life  of 
Henry  Clay,”  published  in  1844, 
edited  and  completed  by  Horace 
Greely  in  1852.  8vo. 

26  See  Appleton’s  “Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  v.,  p. 
353. 

27  See  the  “  Annual  Register,”  for 
the  year  1814,  Vol.  lvi.,  General  His¬ 


tory,  chap,  xvi.,  pp.  177,  178,  and 
191  to  193. 

28  See  William  O'Byrne’s  “  Naval 
Biographical  Dictionary,”  pp.  205, 
206. 

29  For  a  detailed  and  graphic  ac¬ 
count  by  an  eye-witness  of  the 
achievements  resulting  from  this  ex¬ 
pedition  the  reader  is  referred  to  an 
anonymous  book,  but  written  by  the 
Rev.  George  R.  Gleig,  and  intituled  : 
“  Campaigns  of  the  British  Army  at 
Washington  and  New  Orleans  in  the 
years  1814,  1815.”  By  the  Author 
of  the  Subaltern.  Fourth  edition, 
corrected  and  revised.  London,  1836, 
8vo. 

30  See  ibid. ,  chap.  vii.  pp.  85  to  96. 

31  See  Henry  Adams’  “History  of  the 
United  States  during  the  Second  Ad¬ 
ministration  of  James  Madison,”  Vol. 
ii.,  chap,  v.,  pp.  127  to  131. 


CAPTURE  OF  WASHINGTON  CITY. 


329 


that  position.  The  result  of  such  feeble  means  for  defence  might  readily 
be  anticipated.32  There,  after  an  ineffectual  attempt  to  stop  the  invaders, 
on  the  24th  of  August  the  militia  fled.33  The  British  loss  in  this  action 
did  not  exceed  250  in  killed  and  wounded.34  The  President  and  other 
officers  of  the  government  took  refuge  in  the  country,35  as  the  invaders  then 
advanced  on  Washington,  which  they  reached  at  8  o’clock  in  the  even¬ 
ing.36  No  adequate  force  of  Americans  having  assembled  for  defence, 
the  British  took  possession  of  that  city.  They  burned  vessels  then  con¬ 
structing  in  the  dock  yard,  and  the  arsenal,  with  several  of  the  public 
buildings,  such  as  the  Capitol,  including  the  Senate  house  and  the  House 
of  Representatives,  the  President’s  House,  the  Treasury,  etc.,37  not  con¬ 
nected  with  nor  used  for  military  purposes.  Some  of  those  edifices 
were  costly  monuments  of  taste  and  of  the  arts.  Others  were  reposi¬ 
tories  for  the  public  archives,  not  only  precious  to  the  United  States’  Con¬ 
federation,  as  memorials  of  its  origin  and  of  its  early  transactions,  but 
interesting  to  all  nations,  as  contributing  to  the  general  stock  of  histori¬ 
cal  information.  Those  atrocities  inflicted  a  Vandalic  injury  on 
valuable  treasures  of  science  and  literature.  The  unavoidable  evils 
of  active  warfare  are  sufficiently  deplorable  ;  but  this  was  an  impolitic 
as  it  was  a  barbarous  and  a  disgraceful  act,  ordered  too  by  the  British 
Government.38  An  indignant  spirit  was  then  aroused  among  the 
citizens  of  Washington,,  and  it  spread  throughout  the  Republic  ;  while 
the  whole  civilised  world  exclaimed  against  such  an  outrage  on  the  rules  of 
modern  warfare.  Moreover  the  British  compelled  the  inhabitants  to 
sacrifice  all  their  shipping  and  merchandise  to  save  the  city  of  Alexandria  ; 
whileiBaltimore  was  next  threatened  with  capture.  Ho  wever,  while  leading 
the  advance  against  that  city,  Major-General  Ross39  having  been  mortally 
wounded  in  a  skirmish,  and  an  attack  on  Fort  McHenry  having  failed,40 
the  British  army,  on  the  13th  September,  retired  to  their  shipping.41 

It  was  arranged  that  fourteen  thousand  veterans  sent  to  Canada  this 
year  should  invade  New  York,  under  the  command  of  Sir  George  Prevost. 
Accordingly,  while  a  British  squadron  under  Captain  George  Downie  42 


32  See  S.  G.  Goodrich’s  “  Recollec¬ 
tions  of  a  Lifetime,”  Vol.  i.,  Letter 
xxx.,  p.  490. 

33  See  “  Campaigns  of  the  British 
Army  at  Washington  and  New 
Orleans  in  the  years  1814-1815,” 
chap,  ix.,  pp.  118  to  127. 

34  See  the  “  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1814,  Vol.  lvi.,  General  His¬ 
tory,  chap,  xvi.,  p.  184. 

33  See  “  The  Campaigns  of  the  Bri¬ 
tish  Army  at  Washington  and  New 
Orleans  in  the  years  1814-1815,” 
chap,  x.,  pp.  128  to  142. 

36  See  ibid.,  pp.  184,  185. 

37  See  C.  D.  Young’s  “History  of 
the  British  Navy,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap, 
xxxvi.,.  p.  334. 


38  See  S.  G.  Goodrich’s  “  Recollec¬ 
tions  of  a  Lifetime,”  Vol.  i.,  Letter 
xxx.,  p.  490. 

39  He  was  born  about  1766  in  Ros- 
trevor  Ireland,  and  he  served  in 
Holland,  Egypt  and  Spain  under  the 
Duke  of  Wellington,  who  selected 
him  for  this  American  expedition. 

40  This  result  inspired  Francis  Scott 
Key  of  Maryland  to  write  the  beauti¬ 
ful  and  popular  national  song  of  the 
“  Star-spangled  Banner.” 

41  See  “The  Campaigns  of  the  Bri¬ 
tish  Army  at  Washington  and  New 
Orleans  in  the  years  1814-1815,” 
chaps,  xiii.,  xvi.,  pp.  174  to  203. 

42  He  was  born  in  Ross  Ireland, 
and  had  entered  the  British  navy 


330 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


sailed  up  Lake  Champlain,43  to  co-operate  with  him,  the  land  force 
marched  along  the  Western  shore,  in  the  direction  of  Plattsburgh. 
Under  Brigadier-General  Alexander  Macomb,44  the  Americans  were 
only  able  to  muster  1,500  troops  for  its  protection.  These  were  judi¬ 
ciously  posted,  however,  behind  the  Saranac,  a  rapid  stream  near  the 
town  ;  but  little  time  was  afforded  to  throw  up  entrenchments,  and 
these  were  of  a  very  imperfect  character  as  works  for  defence. 

On  Lake  Champlain,  and  at  the  entrance  to  Plattsburg  Bay,  the 
Americans  had  stationed  a  small  squadron,  very  inferior  in  size  and  equip¬ 
ment  to  that  of  the  British,  and  it  was  under  the  command  of  Commo¬ 
dore  Thomas  MacDonough.45  He  obtained  a  great  victory,  however,  on 
the  lltli  of  September,40  when  the  English  fleet  attacked  him.  After 
an  obstinate  fight,  which  lasted  fully  two  hours,  all  the  British  vessels 
were  captured,  except  a  few  small  gun-boats  that  escaped.  Early  in 
the  engagement,  Captain  Downie  was  killed,  with  forty  of  his  crew  on 
board  the  Confiance,  and  as  many  were  wounded.47  Nearly  at  the  same 
time  a  battle  was  fought  at  Plattsburg,  then  defended  by  three  re¬ 
doubts  and  by  two  block  houses.  Prevost  directed  a  desperate 
attack,  in  vainly  attempting  to  force  the  passage  of  the  Saranac.48  He 
was  met  at  every  point  by  Macomb,  who  made  a  gallant  defence.  Gene¬ 
ral  Robinson  advanced  to  ford  the  Saranac,  but  he  did  not  reach  the 
point  of  attack  until  shots  from  the  American  works  announced  the 
victory  of  their  fleet.  General  Brisbane  was  instructed  to  make  a  cir¬ 
cuit  and  to  assault  them  in  the  rear.  Both  movements  were  mis¬ 
managed.  The  English  were  finally  repulsed,  with  a  loss  of  nearly  200 
men.49  The  destruction  of  the  English  fleet  by  MacDonough  caused  Sir 


when  young,  having  seen  much  active 
service  before  this  period.  See  Ap¬ 
pleton’s  “  Cyclopfedia  of_  American 
Biography,”  Vol.  ii. ,  p.  221. 

43  In  August,  the  Confiance,  a 
frigate  of  47  guns,  had  been  launched 
at  Isle  Aux  Nois,  while  three  brigs 
and  schooners,  with  some  gun-boats, 
had  been  prepared  by  the  British. 
See  C.  D.  Yonge’s  “  History  of  the 
British  Navy,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  xxxvi., 
p.  330. 

44  His  father — also  named  Alexan¬ 
der — was  born  in  Belfast  Ireland, 
July  27th  1748,  and  he  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  in  his  youth.  He 
was  associated  with  John  Jacob  Astor 
a.nd  others  at  Detroit  in  the  fur  trade. 
He  became  a  great  speculator  in  ship¬ 
ping  and  landed  estates,  having  pur¬ 
chased  from  the  State  of  New  York, 
in  1791,  no  less  than  3,670,715  acres 
on  the  St  Lawrence  River,  including 
all  the  thousand  islands  that  belonged 
to  that  State.  His  distinguished  son 
was  born  in  Detroit  Mich.,  April  3rd 


1782,  and  he  entered  the  army  at  an 
early  age.  He  was  actively  engaged 
in  Canada  during  this  campaign.  See 
George  H.  Richard’s  “  Memoir  of  Alex¬ 
ander  Macomb.”  New  York,  1833, 8vo. 

45  He  was  born  in  Newcastle  Co. 
Del.,  December  23rd  1783. 

46  See  “  History  of  the  United 
States,  from  their  First  Settlements 
as  Colonies  to  the  Close  of  the  War 
with  Great  Britain  in  1815.”  1826,  8vo. 

47  See  C.  D.  Yonge’s  “History  of 
the  British  Navy,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap, 
xxxvi.,  p.  332.  The  incidents  of  this 
celebrated  naval  engagement  are  given 
in  most  interesting  detail,  and  in  his 
graphically  characteristic  style,  by 
James  Fenimore  Cooper,  in  his  “  His¬ 
tory  of  the  Navy  of  the  United  States 
of  America,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  xxix., 
pp.  491  to  516. 

40  See  the  “  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1814,  Vol.  xlvi.,  General 
History,  chap,  xvi.,  pp.  190,  191. 

49  See  Alison’s  “  History  of  Europe,” 
Vol.  x.,  chap,  lxxvii.,  pp.  732  to  737. 


John  C.  Calhoun, 

Vice  -  President  of  the  U  S 


Henry  clay, 

Senator  of  the  U.  S. 


Thomas  Mac  Donough, 

Commodore  of  the  US  Navy 


Martin  Van  Bure/v, 
Eighth  President  oftheU.S. 


■ 


BATTLES  AT  PLATTSBURG  AND  ON  LAKE  CIIAMPLAIN. 


331 


George  Prevost  to  retreat  hastily  on  Canada,  while  the  flight  from 
Platts  burg  was  effected  in  great  disorder.50  Over  400  men  were  lost 
through  desertion,  during  the  depression,  greatly  caused  by  their  defeat, 
and  owing  to  the  facilities  afforded  by  their  retreat.  Great  indignation 
was  expressed  by  the  British  officers  at  the  conduct  of  their  general, 
while  the  loyalists  of  Canada  and  Great  Britain  were  loud  in  their 
murmurs.  The  result  was,  that  Sir  George  Prevost  resigned,  and 
demanded  a  court-martial  to  investigate  his  conduct.  Soon  afterwards 
he  died,  and  thus  escaped  a  verdict  and  a  sentence,  which  must  have 
covered  his  memory  with  disgrace.51 

The  Americans  attempted  a  sortie  from  Fort  Erie  on  the  17th  of 
September,  when  they  did  great  damage  to  the  British  works.  They 
were  repulsed  however,  with  a  loss  of  511;  that  of  the  British  having 
been  600,  of  whom  one-half  were  made  prisoners.  On  the  21st,  Drum¬ 
mond  retired  to  higher  and  better  quarters  near  Chippewa.  From 
Sacket’s  Harbour,  the  American  Major-General  George  Izard  52  marched 
with  4,000  troops  to  the  relief  of  the  besieged  ;  but,  as  the  British  had 
then  a  decisive  superiority  on  lake  Ontario,  it  was  deemed  best  to  with¬ 
draw  the  garrison  and  to  blow  up  Fort  Erie.  All  the  troops  then  re¬ 
crossed  the  Niagara,  and  withdrew  into  the  American  territory.53 

Towards  the  close  of  1814,  important  manoeuvres  took  place  in 
Florida  and  Lower  Louisiana.  In  the  former  colony — which  then  be¬ 
longed  to  Spain — permission  had  been  given  to  the  British,  for  the 
purpose  of  fitting  out  an  expedition  against  the  Americans  on  Mobile 
Bay,  so  that  they  might  make  use  of  Pensacola  Port.  At  this  time 
General  Jackson  commanded  in  the  south,54  and  he  remonstrated  with 
the  Spanish  authorities  against  such  a  breach  of  the  neutrality  laws 
binding  on  nations.  However,  no  redress  could  be  obtained.55  Where- 


50  A  very  graphic  account  of  this 
battle  was  given  to  the  writer, 
by  an  Irish  army  pensioner  who  was 
then  and  there  engaged.  One  amus¬ 
ing  anecdote  he  thus  related.  When 
the  retreat  was  ordered,  direction 
was  also  given  to  destroy  the  stores, 
so  that  they  might  not  fall  into  the 
hands  of  the  Americans.  Among 
other  objects  consigned  to  destruction 
was  a  barrel  of  whiskey  which  was 
stove  in,  and  the  liquor  began  to 
flow  on  the  ground  in  a  copious 
stream.  A  comrade  Irish  soldier,  on 
seeing  this  wilful  waste,  took  the 
regulation  helmet  from  his  head,  and 
placing  it  under  the  vent,  he  soon 
filled  it  with  whiskey.  Then,  in  a 
serio-comic  mood,  he  cried  out, 
“  Here’s  the  health  of  King  George, 
who  ran  away  at  the  battle  of  Platts- 
barg.”  Next,  taking  a  very  consider¬ 
able  drain,  he  afterwards  passed  the 


remainder  round  to  the  retreating 
men  of  his  company. 

51  See  C.  D.  Yonge’s  “History  of 
the  British  Navy,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap, 
xxxvi.,  p.  332. 

52  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biographv,”  Vol.  iii.,  p. 
372. 

53  See  Alison’s  “  History  of  Europe,” 
Vol.  x.,  chap,  lxxvi.,  pp.  738  to  740. 

54  On  the  31st  of  May  1814,  he 
was  appointed  Major-General  in  the 
regular  army.  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclo¬ 
paedia  of  American  Biography,”  Vol. 

iii.,  p.  376. 

55  One  of  the  most  interesting  and 
reliable  accounts  of  the  military 
actions  of  General  Jackson  is  that  of 
his  chief  engineer  Major  Lacarrere 
Latour,  and  written  in  French.  It  has 
been  translated  by  H.  P.  Nugent,  and 
published  in  Philadelphia,  1861,  with 
the  title,  “  Historical  Memoir  of  the 


332 


IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


upon  he  inarched  upon  Pensacola,  and  on  the  7th  of  November,  he  took 
possession  of  that  town,  which  was  used  by  the  English  as  a  base  for 
operations.66 

Meantime,  the  British  forces,  retiring  from  Baltimore,  having  sailed 
to  the  West  Indies,  were  destined  for  another  expedition,  which  it  was 
hoped  should  result  in  the  capture  of  New  Orleans,  and  in  command  of 
the  Mississippi  navigation.  The  American  government  had  intimation 
of  such  a  design,  and  fully  recognised  the  great  importance  of  securing  that 
position.  Although  occupying  a  low  and  an  unhealthy  site  on  the  left  bank 
of  the  river,  and  not  favoured  by  natural  advantages  for  defence;  yet,  that 
city  had  already  become  the  entrepot  for  commerce,  while  its  possession 
by  the  English  must  have  seriously  damaged  the  resources  and  the 
trade  of  all  the  Western  States  and  territories.  The  country  around 
the  mouths  of  the  Mississippi  was  perfectly  level,  and  swamps  abounded 
in  most  places.  The  months  of  November  and  December  were  selected, 
as  affording  the  best  seasons  for  a  descent  ;  and  accordingly,  when  all 
their  forces  had  been  collected,  the  invaders  departed  from  the  West 
Indies.  Some  of  the  finest  regiments  in  the  British  service  were  on 
board  the  ships.67  To  oppose  this  expedition,  the  United  States  govern¬ 
ment  engaged  General  Jackson,  who  assembled  about  4,000  men,  and 
hastened  towards  the  scene  of  military  operations,  with  an  array  com¬ 
posed  of  some  few  regulars  and  a  militia  force.  A  small  flotilla  of  gun¬ 
boats  was  stationed  at  Lake  Borgue,  east  of  New  Orleans,  and  adjoining 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Other  detachments  were  directed  against  Louisi¬ 
ana,  as  news  had  arrived  of  the  rendezvous  of  troops  and  vessels  in  the 
West  Indies.  General  Jackson  made  the  best  preparations  he  could  to 
meet  that  formidable  armament.  Evacuating  Pensacola  and  the  Spanish 
territory,  he  then  marched  to  Mobile.68 

It  was  now  found  necessary  to  cover  New  Orleans,  which  the 
British  designed  for  capture  ;  and  Jackson  arrived  there  on  the  2nd  of 
December.59  The  population  in  Louisiana  was  mostly  of  foreign  origin  ; 
but  by  his  exhortations  and  energy,  he  roused  the  citizens  to  instant 
action  ;  and  soon  he  had  every  person  capable  of  wielding  a  pick  or  hand¬ 
ling  a  spade  engaged  in  the  erection  of  fortifications  below  the  city,  while 
local  volunteers  were  trained  in  the  art  of  defending  them.  He  also 
proclaimed  martial  law  in  this  great  emergency,  so  that  he  might  expe¬ 
dite  and  control  all  requisite  arrangements  ;  for  he  learned  that  the 
State  Legislature  of  Louisiana  had  some  intention  to  negotiate.60  Before 
this  period,  the  Most  Rev.  John  Carroll  Archbishop  of  Baltimore  had 


War  in  West  Florida  and  Louisiana, 
in  1814-15.”  It  is  accompanied  by 
an  atlas  containing  eight  maps. 

56  See  the  “Encyclopaedia  Biitan- 
nica.”  Vol.  xiii.,  Art.  Jackson 
(Andrew),  p.  533.  Ninth  edition. 
Edinburgh  1881,  4to. 

57  See  “  The  Campaigns  of  the  Bri¬ 
tish  Army  at  Washington  and  New 


Orleans  in  the  years  1814-1815,” 
chap,  xviii.,  pp.  248  to  268. 

58  See  John  S.  Jenkinson’s  “  Life 
of  General  Andrew  Jackson,”  chap, 
vii.,  pp.  99  to  101. 

59  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  iii. ,  p. 
377 

60  See  Hugh  Murray’s  "  United 


CAMPAIGN  IN  ,  THE  SOUTH. 


333 


appointed  the  Very  Rev.  William  De  Bourg  to  he  Administrator- 
Apostolic  over  the  diocese  of  Louisiana  and  over  the  two  Floridas.  The 
latter  dignitary  ordered  public  prayers  to  be  offered  by  the  Catholics  in 
the  New  Orleans  churches,  while  the  United  States  troops  were  being  led 
by  the  “  Hero  of  the  Floridas  ”  to  defend  their  altars  and  firesides 
against  foreign  invasion.01  This  action  called  forth  the  highest  ex¬ 
pression  of  his  approbation  from  General  Jackson.62 

Meantime,  with  a  great  armament,  the  English  had  arrived  off  the 
Mississippi  shoals  on  the  8th  of  December,63  and  twelve  thousand 
troops  were  mustered  under  the  command  of  General  Sir  Edward 
Packenham,  an  Irish  officer,  distinguished  for  his  military  services  and 
courage.  The  fleet  alone  numbered  four  thousand  sailors  and  marines. 
On  that  bank  of  the  Mississippi  opposite  New  Orleans,  American  batte¬ 
ries  had  been  placed,  entrenchments  had  been  formed,  and  a  force  of  militia 
was  stationed  to  defend  them  ;  since  it  could  not  be  known  whether  the 
British  General  would  move  direct  on  the  city  with  his  entire  army,  or 
divide  his  regiments  for  an  assault  on  both  sides  of  the  river.  The  first 
opera  tions  of  the  British  were  directed  against  Lake  Borgue,  and  Com¬ 
mander  M.  Lockyer  of  the  Sophie  with  upwai'ds  of  forty  gun  boats  and 
nearly  1,000  men  were  engaged  on  this  service.  The  American  gunboats, 
commanded  by  Lieutenant  Thomas  Ap.  Catesby  Jones,64  after  a  brave 
resistance,  were  captured  by  a  greatly  superior  British  naval  force.  In 
this  engagement,  the  latter  lost  over  90  men  in  killed  and  wounded.65 

The  United  States  troops  occupied  a  defensive  position  on  both  sides 
of  the  Mississippi,  immediately  below  New  Orleans.  About  eight  miles 
from  that  city,  the  British  landed  on  the  22nd  of  December,66  In  the 
evening  of  the  following  day,  General  Jackson  made  a  sudden  attack  on 
their  camp,  and  at  first  they  were  thrown  into  great  disorder,  but  they 
soon  rallied.  After  an  obstinate  struggle,  Jackson  withdrew  his  troops 
to  the  fortifications  he  had  erected,  having  inflicted  great  loss  on  the 
enemy.  On  the  left  bank  of  the  Mississipi,  the  Americans,  posted 
behind  a  rampart  of  cotton  bales,  were  attacked  on  the  28th  of  Decem¬ 
ber,  and  again  on  the  1st  of  January  1815.67  The  British  artillery  set 
the  cotton  bales  on  fire,  and  these  being  found  useless  were  afterwards 
removed.  The  defended  approach  to  the  city  was  by  a  neck  of  land, 
hardly  a  mile  wide,  and  judiciously  entrenched  with  a  breastwork  in 
front,  while  the  parapets  were  lined  with  American  cannon  at  close 
distances.  Their  defenders’  right  rested  on  the  Mississippi,  in  which  an 


States  of  America,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap, 
iv.,  pp.  205,  206. 

61  See  John  Gilmary  Shea’s  “  Life 
and  Times  of  the  Most  Rev.  John 
Carroll,”  Book  ii.,  chap,  v.,  p.  671. 

62  See  Gayarre’s  “  History  of  Loui¬ 
siana,”  p.  154.  New  York,  1866, 
8vo. 

63  See  Alison’s  “  History  of  Europe,” 
Vol.  x.,  chap,  lxxvi.,  p.  740. 

84  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 


American  Biography,”  Vol.  iii.,  p. 
470. 

65  See  C.  D.  Yonge’s  “  History  of 
'  the  British  Navy,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap. 

xxxvi.,  pp.  340  to  342. 

66  See  “The  Campaigns  of  the  Bri¬ 
tish  Army  at  Washington  and  New 
Orleans,  in  the  years  1814-1815,” 
chap,  xix.,  pp.  269  to  283. 

67  See  ibid.,  chap,  xxii.,  pp.  325, 
326.  ■* 


334 


IRISH-AMERICAN  niSTORY  of  the  united  states. 


aimed  vessel  was  moored  so  as  to  enfilade  any  advancing  assailants, 
while  their  left  touched  a  thick  wood.68  General  Coffee  with  his 
volunteers  vigorously  assisted  in  these  operations.  Having  tried  a 
cannonade  without  much  result,  General  Packenham  desisted.  Soon 
afterwards,  both  armies  received  reinforcements.69  From  subsequent 
movements  observed  in  the  British  camp,  a  speedy  attack  in  force  was 
anticipated  by  the  Americans.79  Under  the  direction  of  General  Packen¬ 
ham,  his  officers  and  troops  had  made  arrangements  for  an  advance.  Hav¬ 
ing  directed  a  considerabale  detachment  of  his  men  to  act  under  Colonel 
Thornton,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river,  these  landed  there  on  the  7th. 
They  were  instructed  to  advance  against  the  militia  posted  at  that  place. 
According  to  a  preconcerted  signal,  a  simultaneous  attack  was  designed. 
The  elite  of  Packenham ’s  regiments,  and  the  great  preponderating  body 
of  his  army,  were  marshalled  in  ordered  lines  for  the  advance  in 
front.71 

This  combined  assault  took  place  early  on  the  8th  of  January, 
1815%7'2  and  just  at  daybreak,  on  the  right  bank  of  the '  Mississippi. 
There  the  English,  having  landed  during  the  night,  drove  the  United 
States  troops  without  much  resistance  from  their  entrenchments.73 
The  Americans,  however,  could  not  be  dislodged  from  their  lines  on 
the  left  bank,  where  General  Jackson  directed  the  operations  as  chief. 
General  Coffee  was  in  command  of  their  left  wing.  The  British 
forces  in  close  array  marched  steadily  to  the  works,  the  44th 
regiment  being  ordered  to  carry  the  ladders  and  fascines  requi¬ 
site  for  scaling  the  entrenchments.  This  order  was  very  imper¬ 
fectly  carried  out,  and  mfich  confusion  ensued  when  the  signal 
for  action  was  given.  Approaching  in  close  columns,  the  British 
were  allowed  to  come  near  the  breast-works,  when  General 
Jackson  gave  the  word  for  a  simultaneous  discharge.  Whole  platoons 
of  the  British  soldiers  fell  before  the  entrenchments.  Their  regiments 
had  no  means  ready  for  escalade,  as  the  ladders  and  fascines  were  left 
scattered  on  the  field.  Then  the  forlorn  hope  retreated,  and  .confusion 
spread  among  their  ranks.  Again  however  they  rallied,  and  were 
directed  by  their  generals  and  officers  to  renew  the  attack.  But,  similar 
results  were  experienced,  in  a  fearful  loss  of  life.74  For  an  hour,  espe- 


63 See  the  “Annual  Register”  for 
the  year  1815,  Vol.  lxvii.,  General 
History,  chap,  xiii.,  p.  123. 

6U  The  Rev.  George  R.  Gleig  estimates 
the  British  force  at  the  Battle  of  New 
Orleans  as  consisting  only  of  6,000, 
while  the  Americans  are  -stated  to 
have  had  double  that  number  present. 
This  statement  is  exactly  reversed  in 
an  American  account,  ’  setting  down 
the  latter  at  6,000  and  the  British 
at  12,000  men.  See  S.  G.  Goodrich’ 3 
“  Recollections  of  a  Lifetime,”^  Vol. 
i.,  Letter  xxxi.,  p.  502. 


70 See  “The  Campaigns  of  the  Bri¬ 
tish  Army  at  Washington  and  New 
Orleans,  in  the  years  1814-15,”  chap, 
xxi.,  pp.  305  to  324. 

;  71  See  Alison’s  “  History  of  Europe,” 
Vol,.  x:,-.  chap,  lxxxvi.  pp.  742,  743. 

72  See' Armstrong’s  “War  of  1812,” 
Vol.  ii.j  .pp.  107  to  170. 

73  See-  “  The  Campaigns  of  the  Bri¬ 
tish  Army’vat'  Washington  and  New 
Orleans,  in  the  years  1814-1815,” 
chap,  xxii.,  ,pp.  332  to  34t). 

74  Fuller  details:  are  given  in  a  nar¬ 
rative,  “The  Battle  of  New  Orleans,’ 


VICTORY  OP  GENERAL  JACKSON  AT  NEW  ORLEANS.  335 


cially  at  every  approach  of  their  enemy,  the  American  fire  did  not 
slacken  a  single  instant.  This  galling  storm  mowed  down  the  assail¬ 
ants  with  discharges  of  artillery  and  musketry,  at  each  attempt  made  to 
advance  on  the  defenders.  In  proportion  to  the  determination  of  the 
British,  a  dreadful  slaughter  ensued,  until  at  length  consternation 
spread.  After  desperate  efforts  of  valour  and  repeated  assaults,  their 
regiments  fled  in  complete  disorder.  Early  in  the  battle,  General 
Packenham  was  killed,  with  a  very  large  proportion  of  his  officers  and 
men.  The  second  in  command,  General  Gibbs,  was  mortally 
wounded,76  and  General  Keane,  who  led  on  the  reserve  headed  by  the 
93rd  or  Sutherland  Highlanders,  shared  the  same  fate.76  It  was  vain 
to  continue  the  attack  on  an  enemy  so  securely  posted,  and  so  skilfully 
commanded  by  their  brave  leader.  The  British  lines  were  com¬ 
pletely  broken,  and  whole  companies  were  annihilated  before  their  final 
retreat.  The  killed  and  wounded  among  the  Americans  were  incon¬ 
siderable  for  the  great  triumph  achieved.77  The  British  lost  over* 
two  thousand  men,  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners.78  Their  humilia¬ 
tion  was  all  the  greater,  because  they  had  confidently  anticipated  a 
signal  victory.79 

When  that  battle  ceased,  the  command  of  the  British  troops  devolved 
on  General  Lambert,  who  deemed  it  necessary  to  abandon  that  enterprize, 
after  the  immense  losses  sustained  and  the  demoralization  of  his  whole 
army.  Accordingly,  the  victorious  forces  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
Mississippi  were  recalled  and  re-united  with  the  main  body.80  When  all 
the  troops  had  been  collected,  they  were  embarked  on  board  the  war 
vessels  and  transports  in  the  river,  and  they  again  sailed  for  the  West 
Indies,  preparatory  to  their  homeward  return.81 

The  battle  of  New  Orleans  most  gloriously  ended  the  war  for  the 
Americans,  and  rejoicing  was  universal  throughout  the  United  States.82 
There,  but  for  some  time  after  the  foregoing  events,  it  was  known  to  the 


published  in  Baltimore,  1825.  See, 
likewise,  Charles  J.  Ingersoll’s  “  His¬ 
torical  Sketch  of  the  Second  War 
between  Great  Briain  and  America.” 
The  First  Series,  1812-13,  was  issued 
at  Philadelphia,  in  1845-49 ;  the 
Second  Series,  for  1814-15,  in  1852. 

75  See  S.  G.  Goodrich’s  “  Recollec¬ 
tions  of  a  Lifetime,”  Vol.  i.,  Letter 
xxx.,  p.  502. 

76  See  Alison’s  “  Histoy  of  Europe,” 
Vol.  x.,  chap.  Ixxvi.,  pp.  743,  744. 

77  See  Jenkin’s  “Life  of  General 
Andrew  Jackson,”  chaps,  vi.,  vii., 
viii.,  ix.,  pp.  87  to  157. 

78  See  the  “  Annual  Register  ”  for 
the  year  1815.  Vol.  lxvii.,  General 
History,  chap,  xiii.,  p.  123. 

79  According  to  General  Andrew 
Jarksbn’s  official  report,  the  Ameri¬ 
ca  r/s  lost  only  62  killed  and  wounded. 


See  Justin  Winsor’s  “  Narrative  and 
Critical  History  of  America.”  Vol. 
vii.,  chap,  vi.,  p.  404. 

80  See  “  The  Campaigns  of  the  Bri¬ 
tish  Army  at  Washington  and  New 
Orleans,  in  the  years  1814-1815,” 
chap,  xxiii.,  pp.  341  to  356. 

81  See  ibid.  chap,  xxiv.,  pp.  357 
to  362. 

82  On  the  19th  of  January  1815, 
General  Jackson  addressed  the  Very 
Rev.  William  de  Bourg,  to  ask  a 
public  service  of  thanksgiving  in  the 
Cathedral  at  New  Orleans.  Accord¬ 
ingly  it  was  held  there,  on  the  23rd 
of  that  month,  the  Administrator- 
Apostolic  meeting  the  victorious  Gene¬ 
ral  at  the  door  with  an  eloquent 
address.  See  Major  Lacarriere  La- 
tour’s  “Historical  Memoir  of  the  War 
in  West  Florida  and  Louisiana  in 


336  IRISn-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


combatants  on  either  side,  that  terms  of  accommodation  had  been 
arranged  by  the  commissioners  of  the  rival  nations.  Peace  had  been 
agreed  upon  at  Ghent  in  Belgium,  on  the  24th  of  December  1814,  by 
the  plenipotentiaries  of  those  powers  implicated.83  On  the  27th  it  was 
ratified  by  Great  Britain  ;  but,  like  most  treaties,  its  stipulations  left 
various  important  matters  undecided,  and  still  open  to  contention. 
Nothing  was  said,  either  on  the  flag  covering  the  merchandise  or  on 
the  right  of  search  for  seamen,  claimed  and  exercised  by  Great  Britain.84 

During  the  interim,  however,  the  port  of  New  York  had  been 
blockaded  by  a  British  squadron,  and  there  Commodore  Stephen 
Decatur  junior85  of  the  President  frigate,  with  some  other  vessels, 
waited  an  opportunity  to  sail  out  of  that  harbour  for  the  West  Indies. 
Taking  advantage  of  a  storm,  which  blew  the  enemy’s  ships  off  the 
shore,  and  accompanied  by  the  brig  Macedonian,  Decatur  sailed  from 
New  York  on  the  14th  of  January.  The  President  was  chased  by 
the  British  frigate  Endymion  Captain  Henry  Hope,  who,  on  closing, 
maintained  a  fierce  engagement,  lasting  for  two  hours  and  a  half.  This 
action  was  indecisive,  when  another  British  frigate  the  Pomone  came 
to  his  aid.  Having  lost  over  one  hundred  men  in  killed  and  wounded, 
while  Decatur’s  ship  was  pierced  in  every  part  of  her  hull,  and  with 
several  of  his  guns  disabled,  the  President  was  obliged  to  surrender, 
after  a  combat  highly  creditable  to  her  gallant  commander  and  his 
crew.86 

The  British  sloop  of  war  Favourite,  Captain  Maude  commandant, 
arrived  at  New  York  February  11th,  with  the  treaty  of  peace  signed 
by  the  commissioners.  Although  its  terms  were  not  then  known;  yet 
was  the  popular  feeling  of  satisfaction  manifested  in  a  variety  of  ways, 
and  especially  by  an  impromptu  public  procession  through  Broadway. 
All  over  the  country,  but  especially  in  the  New  England  States,  similar 
demonstrations  took  place,87  Nor  was  the  expression  of  joy  less  felt  by 
the  people  of  Great  Britain.  On  the  whole,  that  war  had  procured  no 
gain  to  either  country,  while  it  resulted  in  great  loss  of  life  and  vast  ex¬ 
pense  to  both  the  belligerent  powers.88  On  February  17th,  that  treaty 


1814-15,”  translated  by  H.  P.  Nugent, 
pp.  lxviii.,  lxxi.,  Philadelphia,  1816, 
8vo. 

83  Its  provisions  are  set  forth  in 
the  “  Annual  Register,”  for  the  year 
1815,  Vol.  lvii.,  Foreign  State  Papers, 
pp.  352  to  358. 

84  See  Alison’s  “  History  of  Europe,” 
Vol.  x.,  chap,  lxxvi.,  p.  748. 

83  His  father,  a  distinguished  Amer¬ 
ican  naval  officer,  bore  the  very  same 
name,  and  he  was  distinguished  as 
Senior.  See  the  “  Encyclopaedia 
Americana,”  Vol.  ii.,  p.  590. 

86  See  C.  D.  Yonge’s  “History  of 
the  British  Navy,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap, 
xxxvi.,  pp.  318  to  320.  The  mo*t 


complete  and  satisfactory  account  •  of 
the  operations  by  sea  during  this 
wrr  is  Theodore  Roosevelt’s  “  Naval 
War  of  1812.”  New  York,  1882,  and 
subsequent  editions. 

87  See  S.  G.  Goodrich’s  “  Recollec¬ 
tions  of  a  Lifetime,”  Vol.  i.,  Letter 
xxx.,  pp.  503  to  505. 

88  F or  an  excellent  narrative  of  its 
progress  and  conclusion,  the  reader 
is  referred  to  J.  Russell’s  “  History 
of  the  War  between  the  United  States 
and  Great  Britain,  Compiled  Chiefly 
from  Public  Documents,”  Hartford, 
1815,  second  edition.  This  work 
contains  a  list  of  1,400  captures  of 
British  vessels  during  that  war. 


TREATY  OF  PEACE  RATIFIED. 


337 


was  ratified  by  the  President  and  Senate,  The  British  forces  then 
evacuated  the  United  States.89 

Before  the  result  of  those  negotiations  became  known,  a  few  hostile 
encounters  took  place  at  sea.  On  the  26th  of  January,  the  American 
privateer  Chasseur,  after  a  sharp  action  of  fifteen  minutes,  captured  the 
British  schooner  St.  Laurence  by  boarding.  Later  still,  His  Majesty’s 
ship  Penguin  fell  in  with  the  United  States  ship  Hornet  Captain 
Biddle,  and  after  a  resolute  resistance,  and  a  loss  of  32  men,  she  surren¬ 
dered  to  the  Americans.90  While  Commodore  Stewart  was  having  a  cruise 
in  1815, 01  and  on  the  20th  of  February,  the  British  ship  Cyane,  34  guns, 
with  185  men,  and  a  sloop  of  war  Levant,  21  guns  and  156  men,  hove 
in  sight.  Both  vessels  were  chased  by  the  Constitution,  which  mounted 
44  guns.  The  latter  ship  took  up  a  position,  at  some  distance  from  the 
British  vessels,  then  ranged  in  a  line  to  receive  their  opponents.  The 
American  crew  were  distributed  in  two  separate'  divisions  ;  the  one  on 
the  forecastle  directing  its  fire  against  the  Levant,  Captain  the  Hon. 
George  Douglas  commander,  while  that  on  the  quarterdeck  fired  on  the 
Cyane,  Captain  Gordon  Falcon  commander.  About  6  hours  and  5  minutes, 
p.m.,  the  Constitution  came  to  close  quarters,  and  the  action  was  com¬ 
menced  by  broadsides,  both  the  British  ships  supporting  their  enemy’s 
fire  for  15  minutes  with  great  spirit.  That  naval  engagement  lasted 
for  forty  minutes,  when  the  C}7ane  struck  her  colours,  fired  a  gun,  and 
surrendered.  Then  the  Levant  wore  off  before  the  wind.  Having 
taken  possession  of  her  consort,  Captain  Stewart  gave  chase  to  the 
Levant.  She  then  hove  to,  and  exchanging  broadsides,  having  fired 
on  the  Constitution  when  closed  upon,  the  Levant  also  surrendered,  at 
10  p.m.  In  this  engagement,  Captain  Stewart  lost  3  men  in  killed  and 
12  wounded,  while  the  British  loss  was  35  killed  and  42  wounded.92 


89  See  “  History  of  the  United 
States  from  their  first  Settlement  as 
Colonies,  to  the  close  of  the  War 
with  Great  Britain  in  1815.”  On  the 
American  side,  one  of  the  most  valu¬ 
able  and  comprehensive  collections  is 
John  Brannan’s  “  Official  Letters  of 
the  Military  and  Naval  Officers  of 
the  United  States  During  the  War 
with  Great  Britain,”  Washington, 
1823. 

90  See  James,  chap,  xx.,  pp.  480 
to  499.  Also  Appendix,  Nos.  Ill, 
112,  pp.  cc.  to  ccv. 

91  In  1814  Stewart  wedded  Delia 
Tudor,  the  most  beautiful  and  accom¬ 
plished  lady  in  Boston  Leaving  his 
bride  to  fight  his  country’s  battles, 
and  asking  her  what  wedding  gift  he 
should  bring  her  back,  she  replied, 
“  Bring  me  back  a  British  frigate.” 
This  mandate  he  more  than  fulfilled, 
having  brought  two  captured  vessels 


into  the  port  of  Boston.  Miss  Tudor, 
whom  he  married,  was  the  daughter 
of  Judge  William  Tudor  of  Boston, 
who  had  been  among  the  first  to  join 
Generals  Washington  and  Lee  ;  he  was 
made  Aide-de-Camp  to  Washington, 
and  Judge  Advocate-General  of  the 
American  Revolutionary  army — being 
a  great  patriot,  and  an  accomplished 
lawyer.  He  held  rank  in  the  army 
as  Lieut.-Colonel,  equivalent  to  that 
of  Lieut. -General  now  days.  He  was 
remarkable  for  the  extreme  generosity 
of  his  character,  and  the  penetration 
of  his  intellect.  Two  years  before  the 
Revolution  broke  out,  he  predicted  it 
and  forecast  its  results. 

92  From  1816  to  1820  Stewart  com¬ 
manded  the  Mediteranean  squadron, 
and  the  Pacific  squadron  from  1821 
to  1823.  He  afterwards  served  as 
naval  commissioner  and  as  a  com¬ 
mander  of  the  home  squadron,  and 

z 


338  IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Only  one  of  his  captures,  the  Cyane,  with  a  prize  crew,  could  be  brought 
to  New  York  :  for  the  Constitution  was  in  turn  chased  by  a  heavy 
British  squadron,  under  the  command  of  Sir  George  Collier.93  How¬ 
ever,  the  Levant  was  unable  to  escape  from  re-capture,  which  was 
effected  in  Port  Praya,  and  in  neutral  waters,  under  the  Portuguese 
guns.  By  superior  manoeuvring,  the  Constitution  eluded  the  British 
squadron,  and  proceeded  to  Brazil,  where  the  prisoners  were  landed. 
Afterwards  she  returned  to  Boston,  with  the  news  of  her  remarkable 
success.  These  achievements  of  Stewart  are  ranked  among  the  most 
brilliant  naval  victories  of  that  memorable  struggle ;  and  when  pro¬ 
claimed,  they  rendered  him  most  popular  throughout  the  United  States. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


4 


War  with  Algiers — Progress  of  the  United  States — Janies  Monroe  elected  Presi¬ 
dent — General  Jackson’s  Invasion  of  Florida  and  its  Acquisition  by  the 
United  States — Contest  about  the  Admission  of  Missouri  into  the  Union — 
Visit  of  La  Fayette — John  Quincy  Adams  elected  President — Rise  of  the 
Anti-Masonic  Party — General  Andrew  Jackson  elected  President — Indian 
Disturbances — John  C.  Calhoun  raises  the  Question  of  State  Rights — Nullifi¬ 
cation  announced  in  South  Carolina — The  President’s  Proclamation  and  its 
Effects. 


The  expenditure  during  the  war  had  been  very  considerable,  and  as  it 
was  not  yet  known  how  long  the  outlay  might  continue,  it  was  found 
necessary  to  provide  for  the  further  prosecution  of  hostilities.  On  the 
9th  of  January  1815,  Congress  imposed  a  direct  tax  on  the  United 
States  of  6,000,000  dols.  President  Madison  vetoed  the  United  States 
Bank  Bill  on  the  20th  of  that  month. 

During  the  continuance  of  the  war  which  was  now  closed,  a  rupture 
ensued  between  the  Republican  Government,  determined  on  the  redress 
of  certain  injuries  inflicted,  and  the  Dey  of  Algiers.  The  crew  of  an 


commandant  at  Philadelphia.  He 
retired  from  active  service,  but  re¬ 
sumed  in  1859  command  of  the  Phila¬ 
delphia  naval  station  as  senior  flag 
officer.  In  July  1862,  he  was  created 
rear-admiral  by  special  act  of  Con- 
ress,  he  being  at  that  time  the  only 
man  upon  whom  that  high  honour 
had  been  conferred.  Over  seventy 
years  of  his  life  had  been  spent  in 
the  service  of  his  country.  It  was 
said  of  him,  that  he  never  was  de¬ 
feated,  and  his  naval  victories  are 
among  the  greatest  of  which  America 
boasts.  His  services  were  frequently 
recognised  by  Congress,  and  he  was 


given  a  sword  of  honour  by  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  very  popu¬ 
lar  in  his  day — so  much  so  that  he 
was  seriously  proposed  for  the  Presi¬ 
dency  of  the  United  States.  But  he 
most  positively  forbid  the  use  of  his 
name  in  that  connection.  Having 
attained  the  advanced  age,  of  ninety- 
one,  he  died  at  Bordentown,  New 
Jersey,  in  November  1869.  See  the 
“  Encyclopaedia  Americana,”  Vol.  iv., 
pp.  596,  597. 

03  See  James,  chap,  xix.,  pp.  457 
to  479.  Also  Appendix,  Nos.  108, 
109,  110,  pp.  cxcv.  to  cc. 


WAR  WITH  ALGIERS. 


339 


American  vessel  had  been  seized  and  condemned  to  slavery.  No  sooner 
had  the  treaty  of  Ghent  been  concluded,  than  the  Government  resolved 
that  effective  measures  should  be  taken  to  settle  the  difficulty.  Accord¬ 
ingly,  with  a  fleet  of  nine  vessels,  Commodoi*e  Decatur  was  despatched 
to  the  Mediterranean  in  May.  After  passing  the  Straits  of  Gibraltar, 
his  ship  the  Guerriere  captured  a  large  Algerine  man-of-war,  and  the 
very  best  in  the  Dey’s  navy.  A  brig  was  also  taken.  Soon  the 
Commodore  appeared  before  Algiers,  and  forced  the  Dey  to  come  on 
board  his  vessel.  A  demand  was  made  that  he  should  renounce  all 
future  claim  of  tribute  from  America ;  that  he  should  abandon  the 
practice  of  reducing  prisoners  of  war  to  slavery,  and  surrender  all 
Christian  prisoners  then  in  his  possession  ;l  as  also  that  he  should  pay 
a  sum  of  money  for  an  indemnity.  After  some  negotiation,  and  in  a 
manner  favourable  to  the  Americans,  that  dispute  with  the  Algerines 
was  adjusted.  Certain  indemnities  from  Tunis  and  Tripoli  were  likewise 
exacted.2 

Emigration  now  began  to  set  in  steadily  from  distant  countries, 
treaties  were  negotiated  with  Indian  tribes,  and  internal  improvements 
followed.  On  the  11th  August  1807,  Robert  Fulton,3  distinguished 
for  his  engineering  and  mechanical  skill,  inaugurated  a  great  revolution 
in  transit  by  water,  and  took  his  improved  steamboat  the  Clermont, 
from  New  York  to  Albany.4  It  afterwards  plied  as  a  packet  for 
passengers  between  both  cities.5  Ocean  navigation,  begun  by  Stephens 
in  1 808,  was  made  an  assured  success  by  the  voyage  of  the  Savannah  in 
1819,  and  taken  from  Savannah  Ga.,  to  Russia,  via  England.  At  first, 
however,  sails  were  made  to  do  a  great  part  of  the  work.  That  same 
year  the  Sirius  arrived  in  Cork  harbour  from  America,  July  13th.  The 
Sirius  was  a  ship  of  700  tons  burden,  and  250  horse  power.  This  ship 
sailed  from  Cork,  while  the  Great  Western  sailed  from  Bristol  England, 
on  the  same  day,  in  1838.  They  both  arrived  in  New  York  at  nearly 
the  same  hour.  Important  treaties  were  entered  upon  with  the  Indians 
of  the  north-western  territories,  and  those  were  signed  in  September. 
On  the  5th  of  March  1816,  Congress  imposed  a  third  direct  tax  upon 
the  States  for  3,000,000  dols.  In  April,  the  United  States  Bank  was 
chartered  by  Congress  for  twenty  years,  with  a  capital  of  35,000,000  dols. 
On  the  11th  of  December  1816,  Indiana  was  admitted  into  the  Union 
as  a  new  State.6 

At  the  elections  of  1816,  the  democratic  or  anti-Federalist  party 


1  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography.”  Yol.  ii.,  p. 
121. 

2  See  the  “  Annual  Register,”  for 
the  year  1815,  Vol.  lvii.,  General 
History,  chap,  xiii.,  p.  125.  Also 
Mackenzie’s  “  Life  of  Decatur,”  Ap¬ 
pendix  viii. 

3  His  father,  a  native  of  Kilkenny 
Ireland,  emigrated  to  Pennsylvania 
early  in  the  eighteenth  century.  See 


James  Renwick’s  “  Life  of  Fulton,” 
in  Spark’s  “  Library  of  American 
Biography,”  First  Series,  Yol.  x. 

4  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  ii.,  p. 
563. 

5  See  J.  F.  Reigart’s  “  Life  of  Ful¬ 
ton,”  Philadelphia,  1856,  8vo. 

6  See  L.  De  Colange’s  “  National 
Gazetteer  of  the  United  States,”  p. 
492. 


IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


340 


again  succeeded  in  electing  James  Monroe  of  Virginia,  then  Secretary 
of  State,  as  President,  and  D.  D.  Tomkins  as  Vice-President.7  Mr. 
Monroe  had  formerly  served  with  distinction  in  the  revolutionary  war. 
He  was  also  a  man  of  engaging  manners  and  of  an  upright  character. 
The  Seminole  and  Creek  Indians  in  Georgia,  Alabama  and  Spanish 
Florida,  made  inroads  on  the  white  settlers  in  1817.  A  force  was 
mustered,  under  General  Jackson,  who  marched  against  them.  In 
various  encounters  he  routed  the  savages.  He  also  destroyed  many  of 
their  villages.8 

The  term  of  Mr.  Madison’s  presidency  came  to  a  close  on  the  4th 
of  March,  in  the  year  181 7.9  The  candidate  who  succeeded  him,  James 
Monroe,  was  duly  inaugurated  as  President,  and  destined  to  serve  in 
turn  with  great  ability.10  John  Quincy  Adams  was  appointed  Secretary 
of  State.  In  his  remarkable  presidential  speech,  on  the  occasion  of  his 
inauguration,  Mr.  Monroe  was  able  to  congratulate  the  country  on  its 
prosperous  condition,  and  to  suggest  wise  provisions  for  its  defence,  as 
also  for  the  promotion  of  its  industries.11 

It  being  believed  that  the  Spaniards  had  incited  the  Indians  to  dis¬ 
turbances,  in  Api'il  1818  General  Jackson  invaded  Florida.  He  cap¬ 
tured  St.  Mark’s,  and  there  hanged  two  British  subjects,  who  were 
tried  by  courtmartial  and  convicted,  for  stirring  up  the  Indians  to  hos¬ 
tilities,  and  for  supplying  them  with  arms.  Afterwards,  Jackson 
seized  Pensacola.  He  then  sent  the  Spanish  troops  and  civil  authori¬ 
ties  to  Havana.  Against  these  strong  measures  the  Spanish  Govern¬ 
ment  vigorously  protested,  as  a  gross  violation  of  the  neutrality  laws. 
However,  the  United  States  Government  pleaded,  that  they  were  ne¬ 
cessary  under  the  circumstances.  After  some  negotiation,  a  compro¬ 
mise  was  effected,  and  one  very  advantageous  to  the  United  States.  In 
February  1819,  at  Washington,  a  treaty  for  the  cession  of  the  Floridas 
by  Spain,  on  payment  of  5,000,000  dols.'12  was  brought  to  a  successful 
issue.  In  1821,  it  was  rather  reluctantly  ratified  by  the  Spanish  King. 
The  treaty  was  concluded  nevertheless  at  Washington,  and  thus  the 
control  of  the  entire  Atlantic  and  gulf  sea-board,  from  the  St.  Croix  to 
the  Sabine,  was  secured  to  the  United  States.13 


7  James  Monroe  received  183  votes 
of  the  electoral  college  against  34 
cast  for  Rufus  King,  the  candidate 
of  the  Federalists  ;  while  John  Quincy 
Adams,  John  C.  Calhoun,  William 
H.  Crawford,  and  William  West  were 
members  of  the  Cabinet  during  his 
entire  administration.  See  Appleton’s 
“  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Biography,” 
Vol.  iv.,  p.  360. 

8  See  Justin  Winsor’s  “Narrative 
and  Critical  History  of  America,” 
Vol.  vii.,  p.  406. 

9  He  then  retired  to  his  estate  at 

Montpellier,  Va.,  where  he  devoted 

himself  to  study  and  literature,  and 


died  in  1836,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
five.  See  Pierre  Lerousse’s  “  Grand 
Dictionnaire  Universal  du  XIX. 
Siecle,”  Tome  x.,  pp.  896,  897. 

paris  4to 

10  See  William  Grimshaw’s  “  His¬ 
tory  of  the  United  States,”  chap, 
xiii.,  Philadelphia,  1822,  8vo. 

1 1  See  the  “  Annual  Register  for 
the  year  1817,  Vol.  lix.,  General  His¬ 
tory,  chap,  xiv.,  pp.  144  to  151. 

12  See  the  “  Annual  Register  ”  for  the 
year  1819,  Vol.  lxi.,  pp.  170,  176,  234. 

13  See  Daniel  C.  Gilman’s  “  Life  of 
James  Monroe,”  in  the  American 
Statesman  series,  Boston,  1880. 


GENERAL  JACKSON’S  INVASION  OF  FLORIDA. 


341 


Taking  off  the  western  half  of  its  territory,  on  the  10th  of  Decem¬ 
ber  1817  Mississippi  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  new  State  ;  the 
eastern  half  of  the  former  denomination  having  been  erected  into  a 
new  Territory  called  Alabama.  On  the  3rd  December  1818,  Illinois 
was  brought  as  a  new  State  into  the  Union.  On  the  2nd  of  March 
1819,  Alabama  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  anew  State.14  Pensions 
were  voted  this  year  for  soldiers  who  had  served  during  the  Revolu¬ 
tionary  War.  Internal  revenue  duties  were  likewise  abolished.  More¬ 
over,  General  Jackson  was  appointed  Governor  of  Florida,  where  his 
firmness  and  promptitude  in  restoring  order,  and  in  enforcing  his  de¬ 
crees,  obtained  general  commendation.  Ill-health  however,  compelled 
him  to  resign  that  office  in  1821. 15  Meantime,  the  United  States'be- 
gan  to  press  France  for  payment  of  claims  urged  by  their  merchants, 
whose  vessels  and  cargoes  had  been  unlawfully  seized  by  the  Emperor 
Napoleon  Buonaparte.  A  counter  claim  was  set  up  by  France,  for 
compensation  to  owners  of  vessels,  on  account  of  alleged  infractions  re¬ 
garding  the  eighth  Article  of  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Treaty  in  1803. 16 

On  the  15th  of  March  1820,  the  State  of  Maine  was  formed,  and 
admitted  into  the  Union,  although  the  boundary  line  from  the  British 
possessions  had  not  then  been  settled.17  The  population  of  the  United 
States  in  1820  was  also  declared  to  be  9,638,190.  The  National  Debt 
then  amounted  to  90,987,427  dols.  The  politico-economistic  policy, 
best  adapted  to  increase  the  revenue  and  develop  the  resources  of  the 
United  States,  had  been  earnestly  discussed  by  representative  men  and 
public  journalists  about  this  time,  and  extremely  divergent  were  their 
views  in  reference  to  customs’  duties  on  foreign  manufactures.  While 
the  people  of  the  Northern  and  Middle  States  were  favourable  to  a 
high  protective  tariff,  for  the  promotion  of  native  manufacturing  indus- 
ties  and  producers ; 18  those  of  the  Southern  States  held  different 


14  See  “  Dr.  L.  De  Colange’s  Na¬ 
tional  Gazetteer,”  &c.,  p.  655. 

13  See  John  S.  Jenkins’  “  Life  of 
General  Andrew  Jackson,”  chap,  x., 
pp.  169  to  172. 

16  See  Justin  Winsor’s  “Narrative 
and  Critical  History  of  America,” 
Vol.  vii.,  pp.  496,  497. 

17  See  Dr.  L.  De  Colange’s  “  Na¬ 
tional  Gazetteer,”  &c.,  p.  603. 

18  A  very  influential  upholder  of 
this  system  was  Matthew  Carey,  son 
of  William  Paulet  Carey,  a  United 
Irishman.  Both  were  born  in  Ire¬ 
land,  and  had  been  engaged  as  writers 
and  publicists,  before  they  had  emi¬ 
grated  to  the  United  States  and  to¬ 
wards  the  close  of  the  last  century. 
Matthew  Carey  started  a  largely  cir¬ 
culating  newspaper,  the  Pennsylvania 
Herald,  which  he  edited"  in  Phila¬ 
delphia,  where  he  married  in  1791, 


and  settled  down  to  business  in  the 
book  trade.  There  too  he  founded 
the  Hibernian  Society.  In  1819,  he 
wrote  and  published  the  “Vindiciae 
Hibernicae,”  which  was  an  examina¬ 
tion  of  charges  against  the  Irish 
cruelties  in  the  Rebellion  of  1641, 
and  which  he  proved  to  have  been 
mainly  fabrications  of  bigots  and 
enemies.  Besides  other  works,  in 
1822  he  published  “  Essays  on  Poli¬ 
tical  Economy.”  Soon  afterwards,  he 
issued  a  series  of  tracts,  in  defence 
of  his  favourite  protectionist  theories, 
He  was  an  active  advocate  for  the 
promotion  of  public  works,  as  also 
one  of  the  originators  of  the  Pennsyl¬ 
vania  canal  system,  resulting  in  a 
most  useful  scheme  for  internal  State 
improvements.  He  died  in  Phila¬ 
delphia,  September  16th  1839.  See 
“Irish  Celts,”  by  a  Member  of  the 


342 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


opinions,  as  they  were  chiefly  cultivators  of  the  land  and  of  its  products, 
and  they  naturally  desired  to  obtain  articles  for  general  purposes  at  the 
lowest  prices,  or  from  any  country,  without  undue  taxation  to  foster 
home  enterprises. 

For  some  time,  a  contest  had  been  carried  on  in  Congress  between 
the  Southern  Representatives  in  favour  of  admitting  Missouri  into  the 
Union  as  a  new  State,  with  a  constitution  recognising  slavery,  and  the 
Northern  Representatives,  who  opposed  such  an  institution.  After 
much  acrimonious  discussion,  a  compromise  was  at  length  entered  upon, 
and  giving  assent  to  admission ;  but  with  a  proviso,  that  for  the  future, 
slavery  should  not  exist  in  the  territories  or  states,  north  of  30  deg.  30 
min.  North  latitude.  On  such  understanding,  the  new  State  was  sanc¬ 
tioned  March  6th,  and  finally  admitted  into  the  Union  August  10th, 
in  1821.19  This  result  formed  an  epoch  in  a  subsequent  fierce 
struggle,20  between  the  free  and  slave  labour  opponents  of  North 
America.21 

In  the  presidential  Message  of  2nd  December  1823  was  enunciated 
the  policy — vaguely  and  popularly  held  after  the  establishment  of 
Independence  in  the  United  States — that  the  American  Continents, 
North  and  South,  were  thenceforth  not  to  be  considered  objects  for 
colonisation  by  any  European  power.  Moreover  it  was  declared,  that 
the  United  States  should  consider  every  attempt  to  extend  the  Euro¬ 
pean  system  to  any  portion  of  the  VV estern  Hemisphere  as  dangerous  to 
American  peace  and  security.  Besides,  the  President  announced,  that 
if  any  European  power  should  interfere  with  the  governments  in  North 
or  South  America  that  had  established  their  independence  of  European 
control,  such  interference  must  be  regarded  as  the  manifestation  of  an  - 
unfriendly  disposition  towards  the  United  States.  This  celebrated 
declaration,  known  as  the  “Monroe  Doctrine,”  expressed  the  dominant 
sentiment  of  men  belonging  to  all  parties,  while  it  has  since  received 
the  approval  of  successive  administrations,  as  also  of  the  foremost 
publicists  and  statesmen.22 

In  1824  the  aged  French  General  Lafayette  re-visited  the  great 
Republic,  for  which  in  youth  his  sword  had  been  so  generously  drawn. 
He  was  received  with  every  demonstration  of  popular  veneration  and 
enthusiasm.23  On  March  4th,  in  the  year  1825,  John  Quincy  Adams24 
was  inaugurated  President  of  the  United  States,  and  John  C.  Calhoun25 


Michigan  Bar,  sub  voce.  Carey  (Mat¬ 
thew.  ) 

19  See  Dr.  L.  De  Colange’s  “  Na¬ 
tional  Gazetteer,”  &c.,  p.  655. 

20  See  Monette’s  “  History  of  the 
Discovery  and  Settlement  of  the 
Valley  of  the  Mississippi.”  Vol.  ii.. 
Book  v.,  chap,  xvii.,  pp.  549,  550. 

21  See  Professor  J.  E.  Cairnes’ 
■“Slave  Power,”  chap,  vii.,  p.  181. 
London,  1862,  8vo. 

22  See  George  F.  Tucker’s  “  Concise 


History  of  the  Monroe  Doctrine,” 
Boston,  1885,  8vo. 

23  See  E.  de  la  Bedolliere’s  “  Vie 
politique  du  Marquis  de  Lafayette,” 
Paris,  1833,  8vo. 

24  For  particulars  of  his  career,  the 
reader  may  consult  the  “  Diary  of 
John  Quincy  Adams,”  edited  by 
Charles  F.  Adams,  in  12  vols. 
Philadelphia,  1874  to  1877,  8vo. 

25  His  grandfather  James  Calhoun 
emigrated  from  Donegal  Ireland,  to 


JOIIN  QUINCY  ADAMS  ELECTED  PRESIDENT. 


343 


was  chosen  as  Vice-President.  This  year,  the  corner  stone  of  the 
Bunker  Hill  Monument  was  laid  on  the  17th  of  June,  the  anniversary  of 
that  celebrated  opening  battle  of  the  revolution.  On  the  7th  of  Sep¬ 
tember,  General  Lafayette  embarked  for  France  in  the  United  States 
frigate  Brandywine.  On  the  4th  of  July  1826,  and  on  the  fiftieth 
anniversary  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  it  was  a  remarkable 
coincidence  that  both  John  Adams  of  Massachusetts,  and  Thomas  Jeffer¬ 
son  of  Virginia — its  only  two  signers  who  had  been  chosen  as  Presidents 
— died  on  that  same  day.  On  the  13th  of  September,  one  William 
Morgan,  who  had  published  a  book26  divulging  the  secrets  of  Freema¬ 
sonry,  was  abducted  from  Canandaigua  New  York,  and  he  was  never 
afterwards  heard  of ;  while  a  general  opinion  prevailed,  that  the  Free¬ 
masons  had  drowned  him  in  Lake  Ontario.  For  a  number  of  years 
afterwards,  this  suspicion  created  a  strong  feeling  of  resentment  through¬ 
out  the  United  States,  and  an  Anti-Masonic  Party  was  formed  to 
counteract  the  progress  of  Masonry.  The  Winnebago  Indians  had 
become  troublesome  about  this  time,  and  they  had  massacred  some  of 
the  whites.  In  the  year  1827,  heavy  forces  were  sent  against  them. 
They  were  thus  overawed,  and  they  surrendered  a  number  of  mur¬ 
derers  belonging  to  their  tribe.  A  protectionist  policy  for  manufactur¬ 
ing  industry,  and  at  a  time  when  the  principles  of  free  commercial  in¬ 
tercourse  were  little  known,  had  prevailed  in  the  Northern  States,  and 
had  resulted  in  a  tariff  very  objectionable  to  the  Southern  people  in 
1828. 

After  Mr.  Adams  retired,  General  Andrew  Jackson  of  Tennessee,27 


Pennsylvania  in  1733,  while  his 
father  Patrick  Calhoun  was  but  six 
years  old  at  the  time  of  this  emi¬ 
gration.  In  1770,  he  married  Martha 
Caldwell,  a  native  of  Virginia,  and 
the  daughter  of  an  Irish  Presbyterian 
emigrant.  John  C.  Calhoun  was  born 
in  Abbeyville  District  S.C.,  March 
18th  1782,  and  he  died  in  Washington 
D.C.,  March  31st  1850.  For  a  com¬ 
plete  account  of  his  political  opinions 
and  career,  the  reader  is  referred  to 
his  Works,  edited  by  Richard  R. 
Cralle,  in  six  volumes.  New  York, 
1853,  1854,  8 vo. 

26  It  was  intituled  :  “  Illustrations 
of  Freemasonry,  by  one  of  the  Fra¬ 
ternity  who  has  devoted  Thirty  Years 
to  the  subject,”  1826.  A  second 
edition  appeared  in  1827,  with  an 
account  of  the  Kidnapping  of  the 
Author. 

27  A  full  account  of  this  very  re¬ 
markable  General  and  Statesman, 
whose  father— also  called  Andrew- 
emigrated  from  Carrickfergus  Ireland, 
in  1765,  and  whose  mother  Elizabeth 


Hutchinson  belonged  to  a  family  of 
linen  drapers  from  the  same  quarter, 
may  be  found  in  his  Life,  written  by 
James  Parton,  in  three  volumes,  New 
York,  1861,  8vo,  and  in  another  bio¬ 
graphy,  by  William  G.  Summer,  Bos¬ 
ton,  1882.  He  was  born  in  Wrex¬ 
ham  Settlement,  on  the  border  be¬ 
tween  North  and  South  Carolina, 
March  15th  1767,  and  he  died  at  the 
Hermitage,  near  Nashville  Tenn., 
June  8th  1845.  It  does  not  seem  to 
be  clearly  known  whether  the  log 
cabin  in  which  he  was  born  stood 
within  North  or  South  Carolina,  al¬ 
though  he  speaks  of  himself  as  being 
a  native  of  the  latter  State.  He 
only  received  a  very  defective  Eng¬ 
lish  education,  in  one  of  the  common 
schools  of  the  country ;  but  this 
deficiency  was  in  a  great  measure 
supplied  by  a  natural  shrewdness 
and  sagacity,  with  habits  of  close 
observation,  and  an  inflexible  inde¬ 
pendence  of  character,  which  obtained 
for  him  the  popular  soubriquet  of 
“Old  Hickory.” 


344 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


who  had  been  elected  President,  was  inaugurated  on  the  4th  of  March 
1829.  He  selected  the  Cabinet  from  men  not  wholly  devoted  to  his 
policy,  and  after  some  differences  all  of  these  resigned.  In  1830,  the  fifth 
census  of  the  United  States  was  taken,  when  the  population  amounted 
to  12,866,020.  The  Cabinet  being  dissolved,  a  new  Cabinet  was 
formed  on  the  19th  of  April  1831,  and  this  proved  to  be  more  in  har¬ 
mony  with  the  President  and  his  policy.28 

For  a  long  time,  the  American  Government  had  claimed  from 
France  an  indemnity  for  their  vessels  seized  and  confiscated,  as  a  con¬ 
sequence  of  the  Berlin  and  Milan  decrees  under  the  Empire.  This 
demand  had  been  eluded  through  various  pretexts,  under  the 
Restoration  ;  however,  after  the  Revolution  of  1830  a  treaty 
was  signed  at  Paris  by  the  Government  of  King  Louis- 
Philippe,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1831,  acknowledging  indebtedness  to 
the  amount  of  25,000,000  francs  for  damages  done  to  American  mari¬ 
time  commerce,  and  from  this  was  to  be  deducted  a  remittance 
of  1,500,000  francs  on  behalf  of  French  citizens  having  counter 
claims.  However,  this  treaty  could  not  be  executed  without  being  sub¬ 
mitted  to  the  French  Chambers,  having  sole  power  to  vote  the  necessary 
funds.29  On  the  1st  of  January  1832,  the  National  Debt  of  the  United 
States  had  been  reduced  to  24,332,234  dollars.  A  Bill  was  brought 
before  Congress,  to  renew  the  charter  for  the  United  States  Bank,  in 
the  year  1832,  and  it  passed  in  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa¬ 
tives.  However,  for  a  long  time  J ackson  had  formed  his  opinion,  that 
the  Bank  held  too  great  a  monopoly,  while  its  directors  were  prone  to 
indulge  in  over  rash  emissions  of  paper  money  and  in  dangerous  specu¬ 
lations.30  Accordingly,  that  Bill  was  vetoed  by  the  President  on  the 
10th  of  July.31 

During  this  administration  some  Indian  troubles  occurred,  especially 
on  the  borders  of  the  Mississippi.  The  Indian  Chief,  Black  Hawk,32  a 
noted  leader  of  the  Sac  and  Fox  tribes,  had  disputed  the  rights  of  white 
•settlers  to  certain  lands.  In  1831  and  1832,  General  Gaines  and 
General  Scott  moved  a  force  of  United  States’  troops  and  militia  against 
them.  The  Indians  were  driven  back  to  Wisconsin  Biver.  There  they 
sustained  a  defeat,  inllicted  by  General  Dodge,  on  the  21st  of  July  1832. 
These  disturbances  were  speedily  suppressed,  however,  by  the  United 
States’  troops.  On  the  1st  and  2nd  of  August  following  the  Indians  were 
completely  defeated  at  the  River  Bad  Axe,  by  General  Atkinson.33 


28  See  John  S.  Jenkins’  “Life  of 
General  Jackson,”  chap,  xi.,  p,  118. 

29  See  Justin  Winsor’s  “  Narrative 
and  Critical  History  of  America,” 
Yol.  vii.,  chap,  vii.,  p.  496. 

30  See  M.  Le  Dr.  Hoefer’s  “  Nou- 
velle  Biographie  Generate,”  Tome 
xxvi.,  col.  157,  158,  Art.  Jackson 
(Andre). 

31  See  John  S.  Jenkins’  “  Life  of 


General  Andrew  Jackson,”  chap,  xi., 
pp.  178,  179. 

32  A  “  Life  of  Black  Hawk,”  edited 
by  J.  B.  Patterson,  and  taken  from 
his  own  account,  was  published  in 
1834. 

33  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Yol.  i.,  pp. 
114,  115. 


SOUTH  CAROLINA  PROCLAIMS  NULLIFICATION.  345 

Thefr  Chief  Black  Hawk  was  captured  on  the  27th  of  that  month,  and 
deposed.  For  a  time  he  was  confined  in  Fortress  Monroe. 

A  matter  still  more  affecting  internal  tranquillity,  between  the 
Northern  and  Southern  States,34  engaged  public  attention.  Congress 
had  passed  laws  for  the  imposing  of  duties  and  imposts  on  foreign  im¬ 
ported  commodities.  The  southern  people,  almost  exclusively  devoted 
to  agriculture,  conceived  ideas  opposed  to  the  favourite  theories  of 
manufacturers  and  mechanics  in  the  Northern  States.  These  advocated 
a  protective  tariff  to  foster  domestic  manufactures,  and  desired  to  create 
a  public  revenue  through  customs  levied  from  the  products  chiefly  of 
English  manufacturing  industry.  Such  policy  had  procured  various 
restrictive  laws  directed  against  foreign  commerce,  since  the  conclusion 
of  the  late  war  with  England ;  and  as  the  taxation  for  purposes  of 
revenue  was  found  to  militate  against  freer  demands,  especially  for 
cotton,  the  principles  of  Free  Trade  became  most  popular  in  the  South. 
Moreover  Jackson  was  opposed  to  the  measure  of  a  protective  tariff,  and 
during  his  first  term  of  office,  several  public  men  had  declared  against 
it.  llesistance  was  threatened  and  nullification  of  its  provisions  was 
frequently  proclaimed,  especially  as  the  sentiment  began  to  spread. 
These  repeated  complaints  and  reclamations  increasing,  Congress  was 
obliged  to  make  some  modification  in  the  customs  then  levied,  and 
accordingly  the  tariff  underwent  revision ;  but  the  alteration  was 
deemed  to  be  so  insignificant,  that  the  Southern  representatives  re¬ 
doubled  their  remonstrances,  and  even  their  menaces,  so  that  very 
serious  consequences  were  apprehended.  The  people  in  South  Carolina, 
at  a  public  convention  in  November  1832,  declared  the  acts  of  Congress 
to  be  null  and  void.  Other  States  in  the  South  had  manifested  a 
sympathy  with  such  doctrine  and  policy,  while  they  prepared  to 
co-operate.  Between  the  Free  and  Slave  States  jealousies  and  misunder¬ 
standings  thus  began  to  prevail.35 

These  sectional  differences  were  greatly  promoted  by  the  re-elected 
Vice-President  John  C.  Calhoun,  an  able  man  and  a  Southern  politician, 


34  Mons.  Alex:s  De  Tocqueville  ob¬ 
serves,  that  almost  all  these  differen¬ 
ces,  which  may  be  remarked  between 
the  characters  of  the  Americans  in 
the  Southern  and  in  the  Northern 
States  have  originated  in  slavery.  He 
adds,  likewise,  that  slavery  dishonours 
labour ;  it  introduces  idleness  into 
society,  and  with  idleness,  ignorance 
and  pride,  luxury  and  distress.  It 
enervates  the  powers  of  the  mind  and 
benumbs  the  activity  of  man.  The 
influence  of  slavery,  united  to  the 
English  character,  explains  the  man¬ 
ners  and  social  condition  of  the 
Southen  States.  See  his  celebrated 
work,  “  De  la  Democratie  en  Ameri- 


que.”  Tome  ii.,  chap,  x.,  Paris 
edition  of  1836,  12mo. 

35  In  1831,  at  a  public  dinner  to 
commemorate  the  birth- day  of  Thomas 
Jefferson,  after  sundry  regular  toasts 
seemed  to  indicate  a  drift  of  sentiment 
in  favour  of  nullification,  Jackson  sud¬ 
denly  arose  and  gave  a  toast :  “  Our 
Federal  Union;  It  must  be  preserved.” 
Whereupon  Calhoun,  who  was  pre¬ 
sent,  promptly  replied  in  a  toast : 
“  Liberty,  dearer  than  the  Union,” 
and  this  he  accompanied  with  a 
speech.  However,  the  stern  and  me¬ 
nacing  attitude  of  Jackson  during  its 
delivery  was  noticed  by  the  nullifiers, 
who  felt  greatly  chagrined  and  over¬ 
awed. 


346 


IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


but  a  disappointed  candidate  for  the  Presidency.  Certain  declarations  of 
state  rights,  in  reality  anarchial  and  subversive  of  Congressional  authority, 
were  broached.  The  Federal  Government  was  warned,  that  any  attempt 
on  its  part  to  enforce  the  revenue  laws  should  immediately  provoke  South 
Carolina  to  secede  from  the  Union;  and  accordingly,  an  ordnance  of  nullifi¬ 
cation  was  announced  to  take  effect  on  the  1st  of  February  1833,  while 
preparations  for  war  were  at  once  begun.36  However,  these  pretensions 
were  not  acknowledged  by  the  great  body  of  the  nation.37  President 
J  ackson  took  a  decided  course,  when  the  State  of  South  Carolina  assumed 
a  defiant  attitude.  He  issued  a  Proclamation  on  the  1 1th  December  1832, 
in  which  it  was  asserted,  that  the  power  to  annul  a  law  of  the  United 
States  assumed  by  one  State  was  incompatible  with  the  existence  of 
the  Union ,  that  it  was  expressly  contradicted  by  the  Constitution, 
and  unauthorized  by  its  spirit,  while  inconsistent  with  every  principle 
on  which  it  was  founded,  and  destructive  of  the  great  object  for  which 
it  had  been  formed.  Such  declaration,  and  the  bold,  politic,  energetic 
measures  resorted  to,  overawed  the  leaders  and  people  of  South 
Carolina.38  However,  Governor  Hayne  of  that  State  issued  a  counter¬ 
proclamation,  and  it  left  in  Southern  minds  feelings  of  resentment  and 
dissatisfaction,  which  were  manifested  on  many  future  occasions.  A 
few  days  afterwards,  Calhoun  resigned  the  Vice-Presidency,  and  he  was 
elected  to  the  Senate,  where  he  took  a  persistent  stand  in  defending 
the  ordinance  of  nullification. 

On  the  16th  of  January  1833,  President  Jackson  sent  a  Message  to 
Congress,  deprecating  the  action  of  South  Carolina,  in  declaring  a 
determination  to  nullify  certain  laws  of  the  United  States.  To  show 
that  he  was  resolved  to  enforce  the  Congressional  law  at  all  hazards,  he 
sent  a  naval  force  under  Lieutenant  Farragut  to  Charleston  Harbour, 
and  ordered  General  Scott  to  have  troops  ready  for  entering  South 
Carolina  if  necessary.  Overawed  by  this  course,  when  the  15th  of  Feb¬ 
ruary  came,  the  nullifiers  deferred  action.  A  compromise  tariff  had  been 
recommended  by  Henry  Clay  39  of  Kentucky,  providing  for  the  gradual 
reduction  of  duties  until  1842,  after  which  all  duties  were  to  be  kept  at 
20  per  cent.  This  measure  was  approved  during  that  month,  and  it  also 
enabled  the  nullifiers  to  claim  an  advantage,  as  also  an  excuse  to  retreat 
from  their  discredited  and  unpatriotic  position. 


36  On  the  14th  of  November  1832, 
Charles  Carroll  of  Carrollton,  Mary¬ 
land,  and  the  last  survivor  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  died 
aged  nine-five. 

37  See  M.  le  Dr.  Hoefer’s  “  Nou- 
velle  Biographie  Generale.”  Tome 
xxvi.,  Art.  Jackson  (Andre),  col. 
155. 

38  Nevertheless,  a  Union  convention 
assembled  in  that  State  at  Columbia, 
and  it  announced  an  intention  of  sup¬ 
porting  the  President.  Moreover,  the 


Southern  people  generally  were  averse 
to  the  attitude  of  South  Carolina,  as 
being  both  precipitate  and  unconsti¬ 
tutional. 

39  For  a  full  account  of  this  eminent 
man,  the  reader  is  referred  to  Rev. 
Calvin  Cotton’s  “  Life  and  Times  of 
Henry  Clay,”  in  six  vols.,  containing 
his  Speeches  and  Correspondence, 
1846  to  1857.  A  revised  edition 
appeared  in  1864.  Also  Carl  Schurz’s 
“  Life  of  Henry  Clay,”  in  two  vol¬ 
umes,  Edinburgh,  1867,  8vo. 


RE-ELECTION  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  347 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Re-election  of  General  Jackson  to  the  Presidency — He  refuses  a  Charter  to  the 
United  States  Bank — Revolt  of  Texas  from  Mexico — Election  of  Martin  Van 
Buren  as  President — General  Harrison  succeeds  as  President — On  his 
Decease,  John  Tyler  the  Vice-President  assumes  that  Office — Disputes  with 
Great  Britain  in  Reference  to  the  Boundaries  of  Maine  and  Oregon — James 
Knox  Polk  inaugurated  President — War  with  Mexico — Victories  of  General 
Zachary  Taylor — Operations  of  General  Scott — Success  of  General  Kearney 
in  New  Mexico  and  California — Battles  of  Cherubusco,  Molinos  del  Rey, 
Chepultapec,  and  Sierra  Gordo — Triumphant  entry  of  General  Scott  into 
the  City  of  Mexico — The  Mormon  and  Western  Migrations. 

The  important  and  successful  stroke  of  policy  adopted  by  the  President 
was  generally  approved  by  the  people,  and  it  assured  General  Jackson 
a  second  term  of  office  in  1 833. 1  The  President  had  now  commenced 
to  manifest  a  dominant  will ;  while  in  opposition  to  the  disapproval  of  his 
cabinet,  and  especially  adverse  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  he  re¬ 
solved  on  a  financial  measure,  the  ultimate  consequences  of  which  could  not 
then  be  foreseen.  Not  satisfied  with  imposing  his  veto  on  renewing  the 
United  States  Bank  charter,  the  President  on  his  own  authority  caused 
the  government  funds  to  be  withdrawn  from  its  chief  office  at  Phila¬ 
delphia  and  from  its  various  branches,  to  be  deposited  in  several  local 
and  independent  banks.  This  course  of  action  caused  the  United  States 
Bank  to  restrict  its  credits  and  discounts,  while  the  immediate  results 
were  to  cause  a  general  disturbance  of  trade  transactions,  especially  in 
the  great  commercial  cities  and  centres  of  the  Union.2  Although  John 
Tyler  of  Virginia  was  opposed  to  the  Bank,  yet  he  did  not  favour  Jack¬ 
son’s  assumption  of  powers,  deemed  to  be  incompatible  with  constitu¬ 
tional  provisions.  In  connection  with  this  dispute  arose  the  new  party- 
name  of  Whigs,  as  applied  to  the  opponents  of  Jackson,  whose  adherents 
were  then  regarded  as  extreme  Democrats. 

The  President’s  refusal  to  grant  a  new  Charter  to  the  United  States 
Bank,  and  the  temporary  stagnation  of  trade  that  ensued,  greatly  impaired 
his  popularity  with  the  commercial  classes.  Especially  in  South  Carolina, 
but  nevertheless  for  distinct  reasons,  he  was  held  in  extreme  aversion. 
On  the  28th  of  March  1834,  the  United  States  Senate  passed  a  resolu¬ 
tion  in  which  it  declared,  that  the  Executive  had  assumed  authority 


1  The  returns  from  the  electoral 
colleges  exhibited  the  following  re¬ 
sult  :  “  Andrew  Jackson  received  two 
hundred  and  nineteen  votes,  and 
Henry  Clay  forty-nine ;  John  Floyd 
received  the  eleven  electoral  votes  of 
South  Carolina ;  and  seven  were  given 
for  William  Wirt  in  Vermont.” — 


John  S.  Jenkin’s  “  Life  of  General 
Andrew  Jackson,  Seventh  President  of 
the  United  States,  with  an  Appendix, 
containing  the  most  important  of  his 
State  Papers,”  chap,  xi.,  p.  180. 

2  See  Sir  Archibald  Alison’s  “  His¬ 
tory  of  Europe,”  continuation.  Vol. 
vi.,  chap,  xxxvii.,  pp.  263,  264. 


348 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


and  power,  not  conferred  by  the  Constitution  and  Laws,  but  in  deroga¬ 
tion  of  both.  However,  being  inflexible  in  his  resolves,  as  also  con¬ 
scious  of  his  probity  and  popular  influence,  such  declaration  was  dis¬ 
regarded.  On  the  15th  of  April,  President  Jackson  sent  a  Message  to 
the  Senate  protesting  against  those  resolutions  condemning  his  official 
acts.3  Notwithstanding  that  derangement  of  the  currency,  and  the  tem¬ 
porary  interruption  of  trade,  a  season  of  prosperity  soon  afterwards 
set  in,  and  the  public  debt  was  entirely  liquidated  during  the  year 
1835J 

Before  this  time,  the  Southern  Indians  or  Seminoles  were  alleged  to 
have  been  guilty  of  inroads  against  the  United  States  settlers  on  the 
borders  of  Florida.  In  May  1832,  a  treaty  had  been  entered  into  with 
their  chiefs,  and  in  which,  upon  certain  conditions,  these  Indians  were  to 
remove  west  of  the  Mississippi.  However,  after  some  delay  spent  in  fruit¬ 
less  negotiations,  with  occasional  and  mutual  outrages  by  both  whites  and 
Indians,  some  of  the  latter  under  the  half-breed  Osceola  or  Powell  took 
up  arms.  Only  about  450  men  were  in  the  garrison  at  Fort  King  and 
Fort  Brooke,  commanded  by  General  Clinch.5  The  latter  desired  to 
attack  the  enemy  lurking  in  almost  inaccessible  swamps,  and  he  sent  to 
Fort  Brooke  for  as  many  men  as  could  be  spared  to  co-operate  in  the 
movement.  On  the  28th  of  December  1835,  Major  Dade  and  his  com¬ 
mand,  consisting  of  110  men,  set  out  to  join  him;  but  these  were  sur¬ 
rounded,  and  after  a  long  struggle,  they  were  massacred  by  the  Semi¬ 
noles.6  Only  three  of  that  number  escaped.7 

Meanwhile,  the  French  Chambers  had  repudiated  the  action  of  their 
ministry,8  and  in  1834,  the  treaty  of  indemnification  was  returned  to 
the  United  States  protested.  This  action  evoked  a  menacing  Message 
from  the  President,  towards  the  close  of  that  year;  and  he  declared,  that 
if  the  Chambers  did  not  revoke  their  decision  in  the  following  session, 
war  between  both  countries  must  ensue.  He  was  asked  authorization 
from  Congress,  to  seize  upon  the  property  of  French  citizens  in  the 
United  States  that  amount  of  25,000,000  of  francs  specified  in  the  treaty 
of  1831,  and  in  the  meantime  to  provide  prudently  for  future  eventu- 
alties.  However,  to  avoid  a  war — likely  to  prove  disastrous  for  both 
countries — both  the  Senate  and  the  House  of  Representatives  recom¬ 
mended  more  patient  diplomacy  to  settle  those  differences.  Offended  by 
the  action  of  the  President,  the  French  government  had  recalled  their 
ambassador  at  Washington,  and  had  also  offered  his  passports  to  the 
American  Ambassador  in  Paris.  However,  the  latter  remained  to  effect 
his  object  through  a  pacific  negotiation.  On  this  subject  the  President 
felt  extreme  irritation,  and  had  repeatedly  signified  his  intention  of 


3  See  John  S.  Jenkin’s  “  Life  of 
General  Andrew  Jackson,”  chap,  xi., 
p.  184,  and  Appendix,  Note  c.,  pp. 
245  to  263. 

4  See  ibid.  p.  185. 

5  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  i.,  p.  658. 


6  See  ibid.  Vol.  ii. ,  p.  53. 

7  See  Justin  Winsor’s  “Narrative 
and  Critical  History  of  America,” 
Vol.  vii.,  chap,  vi.,  pp.  406,  407. 

8  See  Henri  Martin’s  “  Histoire  de 
Franc'1  lepuis  1789,  jusqu’a  nos 
Jours,*  Tome  v.,  chap,  iii.,  p.  79. 


1JK VOLT  OF  TEXAS  FROM  MEXICO.  349 

proceeding  to  extremities,  if  the  United  States  claims  were  much 
longer  resisted.9  On  the  15th  of  January  1836,  President  Jackson 
transmitted  his  French  Indemnification  Message  to  Congress.  His 
demand  was  presented  anew  to  the  French  Cabinet.  For  nearly  two 
years  of  suspended  diplomatic  relations,  an  open  rupture  had  been  anti¬ 
cipated,10  Prudential  considerations  at  length  prevailed,  and  the 
.25,000,000  of  francs  was  voted  by  the  French  Chambers,  on  condition 
that  Jackson’s  offensive  expressions  towards  France  were  withdrawn. 
Accordingly,  explanations  and  a  qualified  retractation  were  afforded. 
But  for  the  spirit  of  conciliation  evinced  by  both  the  American  Houses, 
and  especially  by  the  Senate,  this  dispute  might  have  brought  about  the 
most  serious  complications.11 

One  of  those  ardent  spirits,  who  usually  have  to  bear  with  persecu¬ 
tion  and  contumely  for  the  prosecution  of  philanthropic  movements  in 
advance  of  their  time,  William  Lloyd  Garrison  had  begun  the  advocacy  of 
slavery  abolition  in  Massachusetts  and  throughout  the  Northern  States.12 
Through  the  press  and  from  the  platform  agitation  spread.  Nor  did  his 
efforts  cease,  until  he  lived  to  see  them  crowned  with  complete  success.13 

In  March  1835,  Texas  revolted  from  Mexico,  and  declared  its  irnle- 
pendence,14  chiefly  through  the  agency  of  Southern  American  settlers  and 
sympathisers,  who  wished  to  draw  her  into  the  Union,  in  order  to  con- 
solidate  more  the  slave-power.  General  Samuel  Houston,  of  Northern 
Irish  descent,  was  chosen  as  Commander  of  the  Texan  bands,  and  soon 
these  were  brought  into  collision  with  the  army  of  General  Antonio  Lopea 
de  Santa  Anna,  the  Mexican  President.15  On  the  21st  of  April,  a  battle 


6  When  Dr.  Richard  Robert  Madden 
visited  him  January  1835,  at  the 
White  House  in  Washington,  this 
topic  of  conversation  was  introduced. 
■’  When  the  President  warmed  on 
this  subject  he  said: — ‘I  thought 
myself  done  with  the  sword,  and 
never  likely  to  unsheath  it  more. 
But,  if  things  come  to  the  worst,  and 
we  are  forced  into  war,  1  am  quite 
ready  to  take  the  field  again  as  I 
was  when  younger,  to  walk  over — 
the  invaders  of  our  soil — at  New 
Orleans.”  The  veteran  lost  his  stoop 
for  a  few  seconds,  his  eyes  brightened, 
and  his  grey  hairs,  it  seemed  to  me, 
bristled  up  momentarily,  as  he 
stumbled  forward  a  few  paces  from 
the  fireplace  repeating  the  words — 
“  Just  as  ready  as  ever  to  walk  over 
any  enemy  of  my  country.”  This 
explosion  of  the  expiring  energies  of 
an  old  soldier  was  perfectly  natural 
in  its  enthusiasm,  there  was  no  affec¬ 
tation  in  it.” — “  Memoirs  (chiefly 
autobiographical)  from  1798  to  1886,” 
edited  by  his  son,  Thomas  More 


Madden,  M.D.,  F.R.C.S.E.,  chap, 
xvi.,  p.  96.  London,  1891,  8vo 

10  See  Justin  Winsor’s  “  Narrativ« 
and  Critical  History  of  America,” 
Vol.  vii.,  chap,  vii.,  pp.  494  to  497, 

1 1  See  Michaud’s  “  Biographie  Uni- 
verselle,  Ancienne  et  Moderne,”  Tome 
xx.,  Art.  Jackson  (Andre),  pp.  445, 
446. 

12  See  “William  Lloyd  Garrison  and 
his  Times ;  or  Sketches  of  the  Anti- 
Slavery  Movement  in  America,  and  of 
the  Man  who  was  its  Founder  and 
Moral  Leader,”  by  Oliver  Johnson, 
with  an  Introduction,  by  J  G.  Whit¬ 
tier,  as  also  a  Portrait.  London,  8vo. 

13  William  Lloyd  Garrison  was  born 
in  Newberryport  Mass.,  December 
10th  1805,  and  he  died  in  New  York 
City,  May  24th  1879. 

14  See  Justin  Winsor’s  “  Narrative 
and  Critical  History  of  America,” 
Vol.  vii.,  chap,  vii.,  p.  505. 

15  General  Thomas  J.  Rusk  was 
Secretary  of  JVar  to  the  Republic  of 
Texas  during  the  Revolution  of  1835- 
6,  and  he  was  subsequently  the  first 


350 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


was  fought  at  San  Jacinto,  in  Texas.  The  Mexicans  were  defeated,  and 
Santa  Anna  was  made  prisoner.  His  captors  wrung  from  him  an  acknow¬ 
ledgment  of  Texan  independence.  This  opened  the  way  for  regular 
diplomatic  relations  with  the  United  States.113  Soon  a  party  favourable 
to  annexation  was  there  formed,  especially  in  the  South,  and  John  C. 
Calhoun  became  the  chief  leader  of  the  aggressive  annexationists.17  On 
the  15th  of  June  1836,  Arkansas  was  admitted  as  a  new  State  into  the 
Union.18 

When  the  year  1836  came,  the  friends  of  the  existing  administra¬ 
tion  were  enabled  to  elect  Martin  Van  Buren19  of  New  York,  eighth 
President  of  the  United  States,  especially  as  he  had  been  opposed  by  no 
less  than  three  different  candidates.20  He  was  put  forward  as  a  northern 
man  with  southern  principles,  and  this  announcement  rendered  him 
acceptable  to  the  Slave  States.  On  the  26th  of  January  1837,  Michigan 
was  admitted  as  a  new  State  into  the  Union.  General  Jackson  retiring 
into  private  life21  on  the  4th  of  March,  Martin  Van  Buren  was 
inaugurated  as  President.  The  deposits  of  United  States  revenue  had 
been  placed  in  the  custody  of  selected  banks  since  1833  ;  and  these  had 
been  used  too  freely,  with  a  view  to  foster  trade,  but  in  reality  to 
stimulate  still  more  private  speculation.  The  State  Banks  became  insol¬ 
vent  also  in  many  instances  about  this  time,  and  commercial  failures 
were  very  severely  felt.22  The  fiscal  embarrassments  of  the  government 
now  urged  the  President  to  develop  his  idea  of  an  independent  Treasury 
for  the  safe-keeping  and  disbursement  of  the  public  moneys.  He  suc¬ 
ceeded  in  procuring  the  assent  of  Congress  to  this  radical  measure. 


Chief  Justice  of  the  Republic.  He 
was  the  Commanding  General  of  the 
Republic  at  one  time,  and  partici¬ 
pated  in  a  number  of  battles  during 
the  years  of  the  Republic.  Rusk  was 
President  of  the  Constitutional  Con¬ 
vention  of  Texas  in  1845,  and  he  was 
(three  times  elected  to  the  United 
States  Senate.  He  was  the  son  of 
Irish  parents,  who  lived  near  Green¬ 
ville,  South  Carolina. 

16  See  Appleton’s  “Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  v.,  pp. 
393,  394. 

1 7  See  Horace  Greeley’s  “  American 
Conflict,”  chap.  xii. 

18  See  L.  de  Colange's  “National 
Gazetteer  of  the  United  States,”  &c., 

p.  81. 

19  His  Life  has  been  written  by 
William  H.  Holland,  and  published 
at  Hartford,  1835,  and  also  in  German 
by  Francis  J.  Grund  and  by  William 
Emos,  pubished  at  Washington,  the 
same  year ;  another  biography  was 
written  by  David  Crockett,  and  pub¬ 
lished  at  Philadelphia  in  1836,  and 


one  by  William  L.  McKenzie  pub¬ 
lished  at  Boston  in  1840.  As  he  died 
on  the  24th  of  July  1862,  the  fore¬ 
going  are  imperfect  narratives ;  but 
soon  after  his  death,  a  Life  of  him 
was  written  by  Allen  Butler,  and 
published  in  New  York,  1862.  The 
most  complete  biography  is  that  of 
Edward  M.  Shepard,  published  in 
Boston,  1888. 

20  These  were  William  H.  Harrison, 
Hugh  L.  White,  and  Daniel  Webster. 
In  the  electoral  college  he  had  a  ma¬ 
jority  of  57  votes. 

21  Before  doing  so,  he  issued  a 
Farewell  Address  to  his  fellow  citi¬ 
zens  of  the  United  States,  which 
enters  upon  a  defence  of  his  financial 
policy,  and  which  offers  many  other 
wise  suggestions  for  the  government 
of  the  Republic.  See  John  S.  Jenkins’ 
“  Life  of  General  Andrew  Jackson,” 
&c.  Appendix,  Note  d.,  pp.  264  to 
286. 

22  See  Sir  Archibald  Alison’s  “  His¬ 
tory  of  Europe,”  continuation,  Vol. 
vi.,  chap,  xxxvii.,  pp.  264  to  271. 


ELECTION  OF  GENERAL  HARRISON  AS  PRESIDENT. 


351 


During  Martin  Van  Buren’s  administration,  some  disputes  occurred 
•with  Great  Britain  in  reference  to  those  political  and  religious  difficulties 
which  led  to  the  Canadian  rebellion,  chiefly  directed  by  a  brilliant  young 
leader,  Louis  Joseph  Papineau,  SpeakeroftheHouseof  Assembly.23  Bands 
of  insurgents  were  assembled,  but  towards  the  close  of  1837  they  were 
dispersed,  and  their  commander  William  Lyon  Mackenzie24  fled  to  the 
United  States.  A  body  of  American  sympathisers  had  been  established 
On  Navy  Island,  Lake  Erie.  The  loyalists  of  Canada  sailed  to  Fort  Schlos- 
ser,  and  there  under  its  guns  cut  out  an  American  vessel,  the  steamer 
Caroline,  which  on  capture  was  sent  adrift  over  the  Falls  of  Niagara.  An 
American  citizen  was  killed  during  that  capture.  The  United  States 
government  protested  against  such  an  invasion  of  its  territory  during  a 
time  of  peace.  The  British  ambassador  at  Washington  sought  to  justify 
it  as  an  act  of  self-defence,  and  for  that  act  his  government  assumed 
responsibility.  So  the  matter  rested  until  1840,  when  one  McLeod 
boasted  in  New  York,  that  he  had  been  engaged  in  such  transaction, 
and  he  was  then  arrested  by  the  authorities,  as  also  charged  -with  the 
murder.  Afterwards,  the  British  minister  demanded  his  release.  The  case 
led  to  a  correspondence  between  Lord  Ashburton  and  Daniel  Webster.25 
Under  the  presidency  of  William  Henry  Harrison,  that  dispute  was 
finally  settled,  the  Attorney- General  of  the  United  States  having  entered 
a  nolle  prosequi  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  York.26  In  1840,  the 
sixth  census  of  the  United  States  returned  their  population  at 
17, 069, 453. 27 

Towards  the  close  of  1840,  General  Harrison  of  Ohio  was  elected 
President,  and  John  Tyler2S  of  Virginia,  Vice-President.  On  the  4th  of 
March  1841,  the  term  of  General  Harrison’s  administration  commenced, 
and  on  the  4th  of  April — just  one  month  after  his  inauguration — 
the  President  died  in  his  sixty-ninth  year.  By  a  provision  of  the  United 
States  Constitution,  John  Tyler  succeeded  in '“that  office,  and  thus  he 
completed  the  term  of  four  years.29  A  measure  for  the  establishment  of 
a  new  national  bank  was  vetoed  by  Tyler,  to  the  great  disappointment 
and  alienation  of  his  supporters  among  the  Whig  party.30  A  rectification 
of  the  north-eastern  frontier  of  Maine,31  which  had  been  disputed  between 


23  See  Appleton’s  "Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  iv.,  pp. 
642,  643. 

24  See  for  an  account  of  him  in 
Charles  Lindsey’s  “  Life  and  Times  of 
McKenzie,”  Toronto,  1863. 

25  See  the  “Life  and  Works  of 
Daniel  Webster,”  Vol.  vi  ,  pp.  292 
to  303. 

26  See  Justin  Winsor’s  “Narrative 
and  Critical  History  of  America,” 
Vol.  vii.,  chap,  vii.,  p  494,  n.s.,  and 
Vol.  viii  ,  chap,  iii  ,  pp  151  to  161. 

27  See  L.  de  Colange’s  “National 
Gazetteer  of  the  United  States,”  &c., 
pp.  38,  39. 


28  He  was  of  Irish  descent.  For 
detailed  notices,  the  reader  may  con¬ 
sult  Lyon  Gardiner  Tyler’s  “  Letters 
and  Times  of  the  Tylers,”  in  two 
volumes,  Richmond,  1884,  1885,  8vo. 

29See  Joseph  Irving’s  “Annals  of 
Our  Time,”  p.  32.  London,  1869,  8vo. 

30  See  S.  M.  Maury’s  “  Statesmen  of 
America  in  1846,”  p.  119.  London, 
1847,  8 vo. 

3 'See  the  American  views  on  this 
question  ably  urged  in  “  Right  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  to  the 
North-Eastern  Boundary  claimed  by 
them.”  Revised  by  Albert  Gallatin, 
New  York,  1840,  8vo. 


352 


irish-american  history  of  the  united  states. 


the  United  States  and  Great  Britain  threatened  for  a  time  to  be  serious  ; 
however,  these  differences  were  finally  adjusted.  Sir  Robert  Peel, 
then  prime  minister  of  England,  selected  Lord  Ashburton  for  a  pacific 
mission,  and  he  proceeded  to  America  early  in  1842.  The  right  of 
searching  ships  on  the  high  seas  was  then  abrogated,  while  the  Americans 
obtained  about  seven-twelfths  of  the  disputed  territory,  and  the  British 
only  five-twelfths.  The  Hon.  Daniel  Webster  carried  on  the  negotiation 
as  plenipotentiary  on  the  part  of  the  United  States.32  On  the  9th  of 
August  that  same  year,  the  Ashburton  Treaty  was  formally  concluded 
at  Washington,  and  it  settled  that  vexed  boundary  question.33 

In  consequence  of  strong  remonstrances,  addressed  by  some  of  the 
Catholic  Bishops  of  the  United  States,  against  obliging  the  children  of 
their  communion  to  read  the  Protestant  Bible  in  the  public  schools,  a 
bigoted  feeling  was  aroused  among  the  different  sects,  and  from  the 
pulpit  and  in  the  press  it  was  very  generally  represented  that  the  Catholics 
desired  to  exclude  the  Scriptures  altogether  from  those  institutions. 
Anti-religious  riots  took  place  in  Philadelphia  during  May  1844; 
Catholic  churches,  institutions  and  houses  were  burned  down  by  an 
infuriated  mob,  while  bloody  collisions  took  place  in  the  streets  between 
them  and  the  defenders.34  The  excitement  spread  also  to  New  York, 
where  agitation  commenced.35  The  so-called  Native  American  Party 
was  now  organized,  with  hatred  to  Catholicity  and  especially  of  the 
Irish  Catholics  as  its  basis.  However,  energetic  and  resolute  measures 
were  taken  by  Mayor  Morris  of  New  York  to  quell  disturbances  there, 
and  these  were  happily  successful. 

Once  more  between  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States,  disputes 
arose  in  reference  to  the  rectification  of  a  boundary  line  on  the  Oregon 
territory.36  About  this  time,  the  United  States  government  had  fitted 


32  See  “  Life  of  Henry  John  Temple, 
Viscount  Palmerston  ;  with  selections 
from  his  Correspondence,”  by  the 
late  Rt.  Hon.  Sir  Henry  Lytton 
Bulwer  (Lord  Darling),  Vol.  iii., 
edited  by  the  Hon.  Evelyn  Ashley, 
chap,  ii.,  p.  62.  London,  1870  et  stq. 
8  vo. 

33  See  Sir  Archibald  Alison’s  “  His¬ 
tory  of  Europe,”  continuation,  Vol. 
vii.,  chap,  xli.,  pp.  91  to  96. 

34  At  this  time,  the  Catholic  Bishop 
of  Philadelphia,  Rt.  Rev.  Francis 
Patrick  Kenrick,  intervened  with 
counsels  of  wisdom  and  moderation 
to  quell  those  riots. 

35  In  New  York,  the  Rt.  Rev  John 
Hughes  Catholic  Bishop,  a  man  of 
great  decision  and  firmness,  approved 
of  the  Catholic  citizens  defending 
their  own  lives  and  property,  if  law 
and  the  executive  authorities  could  not 
avail.  This  approval  was  exceeded, 


however,  when  a  large  Irish  society, 
with  divisions  throughout  the  city, 
had  resolved,  that  in  case  a  single 
church  was  attacked,  buildings  should 
be  fired  in  all  parts,  and  that  New 
York  should  be  involved  in  a  general 
conflagration.  This  menace  had  the 
effect  of  preventing  further  outrages 
there ;  but,  in  various  other  places, 
very  bad  feeling  and  scandalous 
actions  were  manifested.  See  John 
Gilmary  Shea’s  “  History  of  the  Ca¬ 
tholic  Church  within  the  Limits  of 
the  United  States,”  Vol.  iv.,  Book 
i.,  chap,  ii.,  and  Book  ii.,  chap.  i. 

36  For  some  useful  information  on 
this  subject  see  Dunn’s  “  History  of 
the  Oregon  Terrtorv  and  British 
North- American  Fur  Trade,  with  Ac¬ 
count  of  the  Habits  and  Customs  of 
the  Native  Tribes  with  Specimens  of 
their  Language,”  large  map  affixed, 
published  in  the  year  1844,  8vo. 


Daniel  Webster 

Secretary  of  State. 


James  Knox  Polk, 
Eleventh  President  of  the  US. 


mm 


v  •- 


- 


Jr/// 

t  fE&rti 

M  S4 

}:  5  ,  r  -/J 


VZ7///\/  7Vz.if/?, 

Tenth  President  of  the  US. 


William  Henry  Harrison, 

Ninth  President  of  the  US. 


DISPUTES  WITH  GREAT  BRITAIN. 


353 


out  an  expedition  to  examine  and  report  on  the  topography  and  resources 
of  the  distant  western  regions  subject  to  their  authority.37  Several  years 
previous,  a  convention  had  been  arranged  between  Great  Britain  and 
the  United  States,  that  the  whole  of  Oregon  territory  should  be  open 
to  settlers  from  both  countries ;  but,  this  state  of  affairs  then  led  to  the 
inconvenience  of  not  knowing  to  which  government  allegiance  was  really 
owing.  Especially  from  1842,  great  numbers  of  hardy  adventurers  from 
the  States  began  to  penetrate  those  wild  tracts  of  country  in  quest  of 
settlements;  and  in  1843,  the  President  was  constrained  to  notify  the 
British  Government,  that  he  was  about  to  end  an  existing  state  of  joint 
occupancy,  and  that  a  fixed  boundary  line  should  be  formed.  Feeling  then 
ran  high  among  the  people  of  the  United  States,  with  regard  to  the  line 
of  demarcation  in  Oregon ;  and  this  was  strongly  set  forth,  especially  in 
the  Democratic  journals,  and  by  defiant  leaders  of  that  party.  The 
citizens  and  emigrants  of  Irish  birth  were  particularly  insistent  on  a 
demand,  which  they  hoped  might  lead  to  a  declaration  of  war  between 
Great  Britain  and  the  Republic.38  These  difficulties  were  arranged, 
however,  by  the  Earl  of  Aberdeen,  who  sent  out  a  proposal  for  com¬ 
promise,  and  on  terms  favourable  to  America  in  18  16. 39  On  the  28th 
of  December  1846,  Iowa  was  admitted  as  a  new  State  into  the  Union.40 

On  the  4th  of  March  1845,  James  Knox  Polk41  of  Tennessee  was 
inaugurated  as  the  eleventh  President  of  the  United  States. 
Texas42  having  revolted  from  Mexico,  the  new  administration  re¬ 
solved  on  receiving  it  as  a  slave  State  into  the  Union.  Mexico  pro¬ 
tested  against  this  proceeding,  but  in  vain.  When  Congress  met  in 
December,  there  was  a  Democratic  majority  in  both  houses.  As  Texas 
pressed  for  admission  into  the  Union,  the  President  declared  in  his 
Message,  that  its  annexation  was  a  matter  which  only  concerned  its 
people  and  those  of  the  United  States.  Again,  Congress  was  informed, 
that  the  American  army  under  General  Zachary  Taylor43  had  been 
ordered  to  occupy  the  western  bank  of  Nueces  River,  beyond  which 
Texas  had  never  hitherto  exercised  jurisdiction.  Wherefore,  on  the 
29th  of  December,  1845,  Texas  was  admitted  as  a  new  State  into  the 


37  A  very  interesting  account  of  it 
mav  be  found  in  F.  C.  Fremont’s 
“  Narrative  of  the  Exploring  Expe¬ 
dition  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  in 
1842,  and  to  Oregon  and  North  Cali¬ 
fornia,  in  the  Years  1843-44.”  Lon¬ 
don,  1846,  8vo. 

38  The  author,  who  was  then  living 
in  the  United  States,  had  a  good 
opportunity  for  knowing  the  univer¬ 
sality  and  intensity  of  such  senti¬ 
ment. 

39See  Sir  Archibald  Alison’s  “His¬ 
tory  of  Europe,”  continuation,  Yol. 
fi,,  chap,  xli.,  pp.  96  to  100. 

40  See  L.  de  Colange’s  “  National 


Gazetteer  of  the  United  States,”  &c., 
p.  497. 

41  He  was  of  Irish  descent,  and  after 
his  death,  June  15th  1849,  appeared 
“  James  Knox  Polk,”  by  John  S. 
Jenkins,  Buffalo,  1850. 

42  For  an  interesting  description  of 
this  extensive  State,  the  reader  is 
referred  to  the  Abbe  Emanuel  Dome- 
nech’s  “  Seven  Years’  Residence  in 
the  Great  Deserts  of  North  America,” 
two  vols.  Illustrated  with  58  wood- 
cuts.  London,  1860,  8vo. 

43  The  Life  of  General  Taylor  has 
been  written  by  Joseph  R.  Fry  and 
Robert  T.  Conrad,  published  at  Phila¬ 
delphia,  1848. 

2  A 


354  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Union.44  Two  days  later,  an  Act  was  passed,  which  extended  the 
United  States  revenue  system  over  that  doubtful  territory  beyond  the 
Nueces.  This  was  regarded  as  tantamount  to  a  declaration  of  war 
against  Mexico. 

Accordingly,  General  Taylor  marched  from  Corpus  Christi,  on  the 
8th  March  1846,  with  an  army  of  4,000  men.  lie  advanced  to  the 
banks  of  the  Rio  Grande  opposite  Metamoras,  and  there  made  pro¬ 
vision  for  the  defence  of  Fort  Brown,  which  was  regularly  intrenched. 
Refusing  to  leave  that  position,  the  Mexican  General  Arista45  crossed 
the  river  below  Fort  Brown,  with  a  force  estimated  at  6,000  regular 
troops,  ten  pieces  of  artillery,  and  a  number  of  auxiliaries.  Meantime, 
General  Taylor  had  marched  to  Point  Isabel,  in  order  to  obtain 
additional  supplies.  When  the  Mexicans46  were  reported  to  be  in  his 
front,  General  Taylor  halted  his  men,  and  calling  a  council  of  war,  he 
resolved  to  give  battle  early  on  the  next  day.  However,  dense  copses 
of  thorn-bushes,  called  chaparrel,  covered  the  Mexican  position,  and 
greatly  impeded  the  movements  of  the  attacking  force.  It  was  only  at 
night  on  the  8th  of  May,  and  after  a  stubborn  resistance,  that  the  com¬ 
mander  of  the  United  States  forces  won  that  well-contested  battle  at 
Palo  Alto.  The  enemy  then  retired,  and  took  up  a  strong  position  on 
the  day  succeeding  at  Resaca  de  la  Palma.47  Again,  General  Taylor 
advanced,  and  in  the  afternoon  of  the  9th,  his  infantry  opened  the 
attack,  by  pushing  through  the  chaparrel  on  either  side  of  the  road ; 
but,  when  the  Mexican  batteries  opened,  these  checked  the  forward 
movement,  and  did  considerable  execution.  At  length,  a  squadron  of 
dragoons  was  ordered  to  charge  on  the  artillery.  Then  the  gunners  were 
cut  down  at  their  pieces,  and  the  United  States  infantry  soon  rendered 
victory  complete.  The  Mexicans  were  said  to  have  lost  one  thousand  men 
in  both  of  these  engagements.  Soon  afterwards  they  precipitately  re¬ 
crossed  the  Rio  Grande.  During  the  absence  of  General  Taylor,  Fort 
Brown  had  been  heavily  bombarded,  and  the  commander  Major  Brown 
had  been  killed.  Soon  followed  the  capture  of  Metamoras,  of  which 
General  Taylor  took  possession  on  the  18th  of  May. 

For  several  months  succeeding,  the  United  States  forces  were  obliged 
to  assume  merely  a  defensive  position  there,  until  a  division  of 
volunteers  had  been  added.  A  fortified  town  of  great  natural  strength, 
called  Monterey,  was  garisoned  by  10,000  Mexicans  under  General 
Ampudia.  In  the  month  of  September,  having  collected  6,625  men  of 
all  arms,  General  Taylor  marched  against  the  place,  and  on  the  19th  of 
that  month,  he  encamped  before  the  town.  During  this  period, 
nearly  if  not  quite  one-half  of  the  rank  and  file  among  the  regular 


44See  “Encyclopaedia  Britannica, 
Vol.  xxiii.,  pp.  205,  206.  Ninth  Edition. 

45  See  Appleton’s  “Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  i.,  p.  89. 

40  See  Edward  D.  Mansfield’s 
“  Mexican  War,  a  History  of  its 
Origin,  and  a  detailed  Account  of  the 


Victories  which  terminated  in  the  Sur¬ 
render  of  the  Capital,  with  the  official 
Despatches  of  the  Generals,”  chap,  ii., 
New  York,  1848,  8vo. 

47  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  i.,  p. 
67. 


WAR  WITH  MEXICO. 


355 

United  States  troops  were  Irishmen  by  birth;48  and,  among  the 
volunteers,  great  numbers  of  their  nationality  were  enrolled,  on  the 
breaking  out  of  this  war.49  The  position  at  Monterey  was  a  for¬ 
midable  one,  and  a  desperate  assault  was  led  against  it,  on  the  21st.59 
This  battle  ended  with  signal  advantage  to  the  United  States  troops, 
yet  with  considerable  loss  of  men  in  killed  and  wounded.51  After  a 
spirited  defence,  General  Ampudia  surrendered  by  tendering  certain 
conditions,  which  were  accepted  on  the  24th  ;  but,  the  United  States 
government  refused  to  ratify  an  armistice  proposed  in  the  Capitulation. 
Meanwhile,  a  new  plan  of  campaign  had  been  adopted,  and  General 
Scott52  was  to  be  sent  as  Commander-in-chief  against  Mexico,  with  a  large 
military  and  naval  force  destined  to  land  at  Vera  Cruz,  and  thence  to 
march  direct  upon  the  capital.  He  was  also  empowered  to  withdraw 
troops  and  material  of  war  from  General  Taylor.  The  latter  was 
directed  to  move  upon  Victoria,  and  the  Mexican  Commander-in-chief 
Santa  Anna  now  resolved  to  take  advantage  of  his  weakened  force — 
only  5,400  of  all  arms,  and  few  of  these  were  regulars.  In  tlie 
beginning  of  January  1847,  the  fleet  operations  being  directed  by 
Commodore  David  Connor,53  General  Scott  landed  a  force  on  the  Gulf 
Coast,  and  he  then  commenced  preparations  for  the  seige  of  Vera  Cruz. 

Meantime,  General  Santa  Anna  had  collected  a  well-appointed  army 
of  20,000  men,  and  with  these  he  marched  against  General  Taylor,  wdio 
fell  back  to  a  narrow  pass,  in  front  of  the  hacienda  at  Buena  Vista.  On 
the  22nd  of  February,  the  Mexicans  commenced  with  some  skirmishing; 
but  on  the  morning  of  the  23rd,  a  general  assault  took  place  on  the 
position.  Throughout  that  entire  day,  the  battle  continued  with  varying 
fortune.  Repeated  attacks  were  made  by  the  Mexicans,  and  always 
with  great  loss  of  men.  However,  all  these  efforts  were  foiled  by 
General  Taylor,  and  at  evening  the  enemy  retired.  Then  during  the 


48  Among  those  distinguished  as 
officers  was  Peter  John  Sullivan,  born 
in  Cork  1821,  and  who  served  gal¬ 
lantly  through  the  Mexican  war. 
Afterwards,  he  fought  in  the  Con¬ 
federate  war  of  1861.  When  promoted 
as  Brigadier-General,  he  was  distin¬ 
guished  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  See 
ibid.  Vol.  v.,  p.  742. 

49  As  the  writer  of  this  work  then 
lived  in  the  United  States,  the  facts 
personally  known  to  him,  on  which 
the  statement  here  made  is  founded, 
were  clearly  within  his  own  observa¬ 
tion  and  cognizance. 

50  The  opening  and  incidents  of  this 
battle,  and  soon  after  its  occurrence, 
were  described  in  detail  to  the  writer, 
by  Major  Morrison,  an  officer  who 
was  wounded  there,  and  who  after¬ 
wards  had  been  appointed  Command¬ 
ant  over  the  United  States  soldiers. 


in  Jefferson  Barracks,  State  of  Mis¬ 
souri. 

51  Among  these,  General  William  O. 
Butler  of  Kentucky  and  a  son  of 
General  Pierce  Butler,  who  was  born 
in  Ireland  1744,  fell  severely  wounded 
while  heading  a  charge.  He  was  sent 
home  to  recover.  He  joined  the  army 
again,  and  he  took  part  in  the  cap¬ 
ture  of  Mexico.  He  lived  to  be  90 
years  of  age,  and  he  died  August  6th 
1880.  See  “Irish  Celts,”  by  a  Mem¬ 
ber  of  the  Michigan  Bar,  sub  voce 
Butler,  Gen.  Wm.  O. 

52  See  “  Memoirs  of  General  Scott,” 
written  by  himself,  two  Vols.  New 
York,  12mo. 

53  He  was  of  Irish  descent,  and  had 
already  distinguished  himself  in  the 
naval  service  from  1813  to  1815.  See 
Appleton’s  “Cyclopaedia  of  American 
Biography,”  Vol.  i.,  pp.  707,  708. 


356 


IRISH-AM  ERICA  N  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


night,  he  returned  along  the  same  route  by  which  he  had  previously 
advanced.  This  dearly-won  victory  of  Buena  Vista  was  decided  on  the 
23rd  of  February,54  and  it  greatly  advanced  the  military  reputation  of 
the  United  States  general. 

On  the  9th  of  March,  the  United  States  troops  landed  at  Vera  Cruz 
to  the  number  of  12,000  men.55  The  trenches  were  then  opened,  and 
on  the  22nd  a  mortar-battery  began  to  fire  on  the  city,  while  the  siege 
guns  were  brought  to  bear  two  days  later.  The  fortress  of  San  J uan 
de  Ulloa  was  at  length  reduced.56  On  the  26th  the  Mexicans  capitu¬ 
lated,  and  on  the  29th  Vera  Cruz  with  its  garrison  of  5,000  men  sur¬ 
rendered  to  the  United  States  army.  On  the  8th  of  April,  Scott  began 
his  march  towards  Jalapa.57  Meanwhile,  Santa  Anna  had  occupied  the 
strong  mountain-defile  of  Sierra  Gordo,  formed  by  the  Rio  del  Plan. 
Here,  12,000  Mexican  troops  were  posted. 

The  soldiers  under  General  Scott’s  command  moved  forward  at  sun¬ 
rise  against  the  entrenched  position,  on  which  Santa  Anna  had  drawn 
up  his  men.58  The  battle  of  Sierra  Gordo  was  fought  early  on  the  18th 
of  April,  the  United  States  troops  8,500  strong  advancing  to  the  attack. 
At  2  p.m.  the  enemy  was  driven  from  every  part  of  his  position,  with 
a  loss  of  more  than  1,000  men  killed  and  wounded.  In  this  obstinate 
encounter,  Brigadier-General  James  Shields59  displayed  extraordinary 
valour,  and  he  fell  most  dangerously  wounded60  while  leading  the 
Illinois  troops.  The  fortified  pass  of  Sierra  Gordo  was  at  length 
carried.  The  Mexicans  had  five  generals,  with  3,000  officers  and  men 
taken  prisoners,  as  also  43  cannon  and  4,500  stand  of  arms  captured. 
Their  General  Santa  Anna  then  retreated  with  the  rest  of  his  troops. 

In  order  to  reach  the  capital  a  mountain  range  had  to  be  crossed, 


54  See  Edward  D.  Mansfield’s 
“Mexican  War,”  chap,  iv.,  via. 

55  See  Lieutenant  R.  Semmes’ 
“  Campaign  of  General  Scott  in  the 
Valley  of  Mexico.”  Cincinatti,  1852, 
12mo. 

56  In  the  bombardment,  Commodore 
David  Connor's  ships  rendered  most 
effective  assistance. 

57  See  “  General  Scott  and  his  Staff,” 
published  in  Philadelphia,  1848. 
12mo. 

58  This  able,  intriguing  and  enter¬ 
prising  man  was  born  in  Jalapa, 
February  21st  1795,  and  he  died  in 
the  City  of  Mexico,  after  many  vicis¬ 
situdes  of  life  June  20th  1876  A  re¬ 
volution  in  1846  had  called  him  tc  tbe 
chief  command  of  the  Mexican  Army, 
and  in  the  December  of  that  year,  he 
became  President  of  Mexico 

59  He  was  born  at  Dungannon  Ire¬ 
land,  in  1810,  and  when  a  young  man 
in  1816,  with  his  parents  he  emi¬ 


grated  to  the  United  States.  At  first 
he  had  to  toil  for  daily  bread,  but 
afterwards  he  rose  to  distinction  as  a 
lawyer  and  a  politician.  He  repre¬ 
sented  three  different  States,  Illinois, 
Minnesota  and  Missouri,  in  the 
United  States  Senate.  Adventurous 
and  brave,  he  had  served  under  General 
Taylor  on  the  Rio  Grande,  and  later 
still  in  the  Confederate  War.  He  wus 
Governor  of  Oregon,  and  he  died  in 
Iowa,  June  1st  1879.  A  fine  statue  of 
him  adorns  the  Capitol  in  Washington. 

60  At  first,  he  was  supposed  to  have 
been  mortally  wounded,  as  a  ball 
passed  through  his  right  lung  and 
came  out  through  his  back.  A  Mexi¬ 
can  surgeon  is  said  to  have  healed 
that  wound,  by  passing  a  silk  hand¬ 
kerchief  through  it  from  breast  to 
hack,  and  thus  cleaning  it  from  an 
internal  congestion  of  blood.  See 
“  Irish  Celts,”  by  a  Member  of  the 
Michigan  Bar,  sub  vote,  Shields, 
General  James. 


BATTLE  OP  SIERRA  GORDO. 


357 


as  General  Scott  moved  forward  in  pursuit.  The  next  operation  of  im¬ 
portance  was  the  dislodgment  of  the  Mexicans  from  Jalapa,  and  here 
the  Major-General  of  Volunteers  Robert  Patterson61  especially  distin¬ 
guished  himself  in  the  attack  on  their  position.  After  a  vigorous 
defence  it  was  carried.  On  the  19th  of  April,  General  Scott  took 
possession  of  Jalapa.  On  the  22nd,  he  entered  Perote  where  a  strong 
castle  stood.  Afterwards,  the  large  city  of  Puebla  was  taken  on  the 
15th  of  May.62  Here,  however,  sickness  retarded  further  operations  by 
the  United  States  forces,  who  suffered  much  from  the  climate.  Rein¬ 
forcements  were  required,  before  the  army  could  march  forward  for  the 
city  of  Mexico. 

Meanwhile  a  diversion  had  been  planned,  to  divide  and  distract  the 
Mexican  forces,  and  in  a  part  of  their  territory  most  open  to  invasion 
and  less  capable  of  defence.  A  volunteer  force  had  been  levied  in  the 
Western  States,63  and  joined  by  some  regular  troops,  these  were  placed 
under  the  direction  of  General  Stephen  Watts  Kearney.64  He  con¬ 
ducted  an  army  over  the  plains,  through  New  Mexico  and  California, 
during  the  autumn  of  1846. 65  Having  established  a  provisional  civil 
government  in  Santa  Fe,  he  continued  his  march,  and  on  the  6th  of 
December,  he  fought  an  engagement  at  San  Pasqual,  where  he  was 
twice  wounded.  Subsequently,  he  commanded  a  detachment  of  sailors 
and  marines  with  some  dragoons,  at  the  passage  of  San  Gabriel  River. 
On  the  8th  and  9th  of  January  1847,  he  fought  a  skirmish  on  the 
plains  of  Mesa.  For  his  services  in  this  campaign,  he  received  the 
brevet  of  major-general.66 

In  the  meantime,  General  Santa  Anna  was  busily  occupied  in  raising 
a  new  army  and  in  fortifying  the  capital.  For  this  purpose  he  had 
mustered  30,000  mm.  and  he  devised  with  great  judgment  an  elaborate 
system  of  fortifications.  Nor  could  General  Scott  move  his  army  in 
that  direction  before  the  7th  of  August.  He  then  marched  with  10,000 
troops  by  the  national  road.  The  Mexicans  were  in  position  at  the 
Castle  of  San  Antonio,  having  the  fortified  heights  of  Churubusco  be¬ 
hind  them.  An  entrenched  camp  had  been  stationed  at  Contreras, 
which  was  attacked  and  carried  by  General  Persifor  F.  Smith,  after  a 


61  He  was  born  in  Cappagh,  County 
of  Tyrone  Ireland,  in  1792.  He 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  at  an 
early  age,  and  began  his  military  career 
in  the  war  of  1812.  In  the  still  later 
Confederate  War,  he  was  appointed 
Major-General  of  Volunteers  1861, 
over  the  department  of  Pennsylvania, 
Delaware,  Maryland  and  the  District 
of  Columbia.  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclo¬ 
paedia  of  American  Biography,”  Vol. 
iv.,  p.  673. 

62  See  Lieutenant  Raphael  Semmes’ 
“  Campaign  of  General  Scott  in  the 
Valley  of  Mexico,”  Cincinatti,  1852, 
8  vo. 


63  See  T.  J.  Farnham’s  “  Life, 
Adventures  and  Travels  in  Cali¬ 
fornia,”  to  which  are  added  the  Con¬ 
quest  of  California. 

64  He  was  of  Irish  descent,  and  he 
served  gallantly  in  the  war  of  1812-14. 

65  See  Edward  D.  Mansfield’s 
“Mexican  War,”  &c.,  chaps,  v.,  vi. 

66  Afterwards,  he  was  created  Gov¬ 
ernor  of  California,  from  March  until 
June  1847.  In  May  1848,  he 
was  made  military  and  civil  governor 
over  the  City  of  Mexico.  See  Apple- 
ton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Bi«- 
graphy,”  Vol.  iii.,  pp.  496,  497. 


358  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

contest  which  only  lasted  for  fifteen  minutes,  on  the  20th  of  August. 
About  the  same  time,  General  Worth  assailed  the  Castle  of  San 
Antonio,  which  was  taken.  The  Mexican  troops  were  commanded  by 
Santa  Anna. 

Meanwhile  the  enemy  had  a  very  formidable  position  at  Churu- 
busco.  An  attack  in  general  force  was  then  directed  against  the 
heights.  On  the  very  same  day,  a  third  victory  was  secured  by  the 
United  States  troops.67  However,  an  armistice  was  proposed  by  Gene¬ 
ral  Santa  Anna  until  the  7th  September,  to  allow  of  negotiations  for 
peace.  Meanwhile,  the  Mexican  General  availed  of  the  interval  to 
strengthen  still  more  his  defences.  Those  overtures  he  proposed  did 
not  result  in  aught  save  the  resumption  of  hostilities.  Operations  were 
commenced  by  the  American  army  against  Molino  del  Rey,  south¬ 
west  from  the  city  of  Mexico,  where  an  army  of  14,000  had  been 
stationed.  General  William  Jenkins  Worth68  led  the  attack,  which 
had  been  made  on  that  position  September  8th,  at  the  head  of 
3,400  men.  During  that  assault,  Second  Lieutenant  Ulysses  S. 
Grant69  particularly  distinguished  himself  for  gallant  behaviour,  and 
afterwards  he  was  promoted  on  the  field  of  battle.70  This  position 
of  Molino  del  Rey  General  Worth  carried,  but  with  a  loss  of  one- 
fourth  the  soldiers  under  his  command.71 


67  In  this  engagement,  and  at  the 
head  of  his  regiment,  fell  Colonel 
Pierce  M.  Butler,  son  to  the  South 
Carolina  Senator  of  the  Revolutionary 
War.  He  was  of  Irish  descent  and 
elected  Governor  of  South  Carolina  in 
1838.  He  was  born  in  South  Caro¬ 
lina,  in  1798.  See  “  Irish  Celts,”  by 
a  Member  of  the  Michigan  Bar,  sub 
voce  Butler,  Pierce  M. 

68  He  had  already  distinguished 
himself  in  the  war  of  1812-14  in 
Canada,  as  also  at  the  battle  of  Mon¬ 
terey.  He  was  engaged  in  all  the 
battles  from  Vera  Cruz  to  Mexico. 
As  Commandant  of  the  Texas  Depart¬ 
ment  after  the  war,  he  died  of  cholera 
at  San  Antonio',  May  17th  1849.  See 
Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of  American 
Biograpy,”  vol.  vi.,  pp.  615,  616. 

69  Afterwards,  the  renowned  Com- 
mander-in-Chief  of  the  United  States 
army  that  concluded  the  great  Con¬ 
federate  War,  and  who  became  Presi¬ 
dent  of  the  United  States.  He  was 
bom  at  Point  Pleasant  Clermont 
County  Ohio,  on  the  27th  of  April 
1822,  and  he  was  of  Scottish  descent, 
Matthew  Grant  having  arrived  from 
Scotland,  at  Dorchester  Mass.,  in 
May  1630.  He  was  baptised  Hiram 
Ulysses,  but  he  dropped  the  former 


name  when  he  entered  the  Military 
Academy  at  West  Point  in  1839. 
After  graduation  in  1843,  he  was 
attached  as  Brevet-Lieutenant  to  the 
Fourth  Regiment  of  U.  S.  Infantry, 
and  assigned  to  duty  at  Jefferson  Bar¬ 
racks  near  St.  Louis,  Mo.  He  went 
with  his  Regiment  in  September  1845, 
to  serve  in  Texas,  under  the  com¬ 
mand  of  General  Zachary  Taylor.  He 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Palo 
Alto  and  of  Resaca  de  la  Palma  in  1846, 
and  in  other  engagements  the  year 
succeeding.  See  Edward  C.  Marshall’s 
“  Ancestry  of  General  Grant  and  their 
Contemporaries,”  also  Personal  Me¬ 
moirs  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant,”  written 
by  himself,  in  two  volumes,  8vo, 
1885,  1886. 

70  He  was  then  brevetted  to  the 
rank  of  First  Lieutenant. 

71  During  these  attacks,  General 
Philip  Kearney — born  of  Irish  parents 
in  New  York  1815 — greatly  distin¬ 
guished  himself  by  his  gallantry  and 
daring  cavalry  charges,  on  the  power¬ 
fully  supported  artillery  of  the  Mexi¬ 
cans.  In  one  of  these  attacks  he  lost 
an  arm.  See  “  Irish  Celts,”  by  a 
Member  of  the  Michigan  Bar,  sub 
voce  Kearney,  General  Philip. 


ENTRY  OF  GENERAL  SCOTT  INTO  THE  CITY  OF  MEXICO.  359 


The  strongly  fortified  and  wooded  eminence  of  Chapultapec  was  still 
held  by  the  Mexicans.  Dispositions  were  made  for  the  assault  by 
General  Scott.  On  the  13th  of  September,  the  United  States  troops 
were  led  to  the  attack  by  Major-General  John  Anthony  Quitman,72 
but  they  encountered  a  most  obstinate  resistance.  The  conduct  of 
Lieutenant  Grant  was  so  highly  approved  in  this  assault,  that  it  won 
for  him  another  promotion,  Amid  great  slaughter,  the  heights  of  Cha¬ 
pultapec  were  at  length  carried.  That  very  same  night,  Generals  Worth 
and  Quitman  advanced  with  some  forces  and  stormed  two  gates,  which 
left  them  in  possession  of  the  capital.  The  former  was  the  first  to  enter 
the  city  of  Mexico.  With  a  remnant  of  his  army,  General  Santa  Anna 
resigning  the  presidency  afterwards  retired  towards  Puebla. 

On  the  morning  of  the  14th,  the  city  of  Mexico  was  thus  opened  to 
the  advance  of  the  United  States  troops.  Accordingly  General  Scott 
marched  in  with  his  soldiers,  and  occupied  the  national  palace.73  How¬ 
ever  from  the  houses  the  citizens  fired  on  the  troops,  and  some  street 
fighting  took  place.  This  was  soon  suppressed,  and  when  order  was  re¬ 
stored  a  contribution  was  levied  on  the  city  of  1 50,000  dollars,  two- 
thirds  of  which  General  Scott  remitted  to  the  United  States,  and  this 
sum  was  designed  to  found  military  asylums.  Taxes  were  also  levied 
to  support  the  army,  and  a  civil  organisation  was  established  under  pro¬ 
tection  of  the  t  roops. 

The  spirit  of  commercial  enterprise,  manufacturing  industry  and 
railway  extensions  now  began  to  manifest  extraordinary  development 
throughout  the  United  States.  Migration  of  families  and  individuals 
from  the  older  settlements  to  the  western  territories  was  specially  note¬ 
worthy,  The  public  lands  were  entered,  and  largely  brought  into  cul¬ 
tivation.  Newly  formed  cities  and  towns  were  universally  increasing 
in  size  and  population.  Wisconsin  was  admitted  as  a  new  State  in  the 
Union,  August  6th  1846. 74 

Long  before  this  period,  one  Joseph  Smith,75  had  proclaimed  himself 
a  prophet,  and  pretended  he  had  angelic  visions.  His  doctrines  were 
said  to  be  published  in  “  The  Look  of  Mormon,”  and  a  Mormon  Church 
was  organised  in  1830.  He  also  claimed  miraculous  powers,  and  soon 
he  had  numerous  followers.  He  brought  many  of  these  to  settle  in 
Missouri,  whence  they  were  expelled  in  183S  by  mob  violence.  After¬ 
wards,  they  took  refuge  in  Illinois.76  There  they  founded  a  city  and  a 
temple,  at  a  place  called  Nauvoo.  Soon  divisions  and  confusion  ensued; 
popular  prejudice  was  once  more  excited  ;  the  neighbouring  inhabitants 


72  See  J.  F.  H.  Claibourne’s  “  Life  and 
Correspondence  of  John  A.  Quitman, 
U.S.A.,  and  Governor  of  the  State  of 
Mississippi,”  New  York,  1860,  8vo. 

73  See  Lieutenant  Raphael  Semmes’ 
“  Campaign  of  General  Scott  in  the 
Valley  of  Mexico.” 

74  See  MacCabe’s  “  Gazetteer  of 
Wisconsin.” 


75  He  was  born  at  Sharon,  in  the 
State  of  Vermount,  December  23rd 
1850.  See  “  The  Mormons,  or  Latter- 
Day  Saints :  a  Contemporary  His¬ 
tory.”  London,  1852,  8vo. 

76  See  Daniel  P.  Kidder’s  “  Mor- 
monism  and  the  Mormons,”  New 
V  oik.  1812,  Sv'ij. 


3G0 


IRISH -AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


rose  in  arms  against  them  ;  when  Joseph  Smith  and  his  brother  Hiram 
were  soon  arrested  on  a  charge  of  treason.  Confined  in  Carthage,  on 
the  evening  of  June  27th  1844,  a  band  of  over  100  ruffians  rushed  into 
the  jail  and  fired  upon  the  brothers.  Hiram  was  killed  first,  and 
Joseph  then  fell  pierced  with  several  bullets.77  However,  their  sect 
was  not  to  be  daunted  by  these  misfortunes;  but  to  the  number  of 
5,000  or  6,000,  the  followers  resolved  on  a  project  of  distant  coloni¬ 
sation.  Accordingly,  a  great  migration  of  Mormons  crossed  the  plains 
through  Missouri,  towards  the  latter  part  of  1846,  and  in  the  earlier 
part  of  1847,  to  found  their  new  settlements  in  the  Western  Terri¬ 
tories  of  the  United  States.  These  emigrants  were  under  the  leadership 
of  Brigham  Young,78  and  they  selected  Salt  Lake  as  the  site  on  which 
to  build  their  chief  city.  He  was  chosen  as  successor  to  Joseph  Smith, 
and  on  the  12th  of  March  1849,  he  was  elected  Governor  of  Deseret, 
understood  by  the  Mormons  to  signify  “  land  of  the  honey-bee.” 
Afterwards  it  was  formed  into  a  State  and  called  Utah.  Numerous 
accessions  took  place  each  subsequent  year,  and  soon  a  large  colony  was 
formed. 

Moreover,  news  having  spread  abroad,  that  gold  had  been  discovered 
in  great  abundance  in  the  newly-conquered  Mexican  territories,  thousands 
of  the  U nited  States  citizens  began  to  flock  westwards,  having  resolved 
to  try  their  fortunes  in  those  hitherto  almost  unexplored  l’egions.79 
Numbers  were  disappointed,  however,  in  the  immediate  object  of  their 
search ;  yet  the  energy  and  enterprise  of  those  adventurers  generally 
found  reward  in  other  channels  of  industry.80  Besides,  those  distant 
tracts  of  land  were  settled  by  hardy  and  intelligent  bodies  of  immigrants, 
who  soon  began  to  develop  the  natural  resources  of  those  western  wilds 
extending  beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  distant  Pacific  Ocean, 
and  who  there  became  the  pioneers  of  progress  and  civilisation. 


77See  “  The  Mormons  :  or  Latter- 
Day  Saints,  with  Memoirs  of  Joseph 
Smith,”  London,  1851,  8vo. 

78  He  was  born  in  Whitingham  State 
of  Vermont,  June  1st  1801  and  his 
father  John  was  a  farmer  who  served 
in  the  Revolutionary  War.  Brigham 
embraced  the  Mormon  doctrines  and 
was  baptised  in  1832.  Afterwards 
he  was  ordained  an  elder,  and  he  en¬ 
gaged  in  Canada  preaching,  baptising 
and  organising  missions.  In  1835 
he  was  chosen  one  of  the  ‘‘  twelve 
apostles.”  In  September  1839,  he 
set  out  for  England,  and  emigrated 
from  that  country  1000  proselytes  to 
Moraonism.  Although  polygamy  is 


strictly  forbidden  in  the  Book  of 
Mormon,  and  in  other  publications 
before  Joseph  Smith’s  death ;  yet 
Brigham  Young  claimed  that  a  re¬ 
velation  commanding  it  was  to  be 
received  as  doctrine,  when  he  had 
been  established  in  Utah.  He  died  in 
Salt  Lake  City,  August  29th  1877. 

79  See  “  Travels  in  Oregon  and  His¬ 
tory  of  the  Gold  Regions,  with 
plates.”  This  work  appeared  in  New 
York,  1852. 

80  See  D.  T.  Armstead,  “Gold 
Seeker’s  Manual.”  Also,  “Four 
Months  among  the  Gold  Finders  iD 
California,”  by  T.  Brooks,  M.D. 


Za cha ry  Taylor 

Twelfth  Pres/  dent 
of  the  United  States. 


M/llard  Film  ore 

Thirteenth  President 
of the'United  States. 


Thomas  H.  Benton 

Senator  of  the 
United  States 


PUACtt  VrUii  Hii-UCO. 


361 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

Peace  with  Mexico — General  Zachary  Taylor  elected  President  —Ilis  Death — The 
Succession  devolves  on  Millard  Filmore,  Vice-President — Irish  Emigration  to 
the  United  States — Franklin  Pierce  becomes  President — The  Native  American 
Party — Agitation  on  the  Subject  of  Slavery  in  the  Free  and  Slave  States — 
James  Buchannan’s  Presidency — Raid  of  John  Brown  in  Virginia — Contests 
in  Kansas  between  the  Slavery  and  Anti- Slavery  Parties — Abraham  Lincoln 
elected  President — The  South  declares  for  Secession  from  the  United  States — 
Formation  of  the  Southern  Confederacy — Seizure  of  the  Arsenals,  Magazines 
and  Forts  of  the  Union — Proclamation  of  President  Lincoln — Volunteering — 
The  Irish  Brigade  formed. 

The  possession  of  their  capital  precluded  all  hope  of  prosecuting  the  war 
successfully  on  the  part  of  the  Mexicans.  Commissioners  were  now 
appointed  on  both  sides  to  propose  terms  of  accommodation.1  Peace  was 
concluded  in  February  1848.  The  cession  of  a  vast  territory  formerly 
held  by  Mexico2  was  the  result  of  a  treaty.  Thenceforth  annexed  to 
the  United  States3  was  the  greater  part  of  that  tract  of  country  called 
California  by  the  Spaniards  in  1536.  Then,  it  had  been  occupied  by 
Indian  tribes  having  separate  names  and  using  different  languages.4 
By  the  early  Spanish  Jesuit  missionaries,  many  of  those  had  been 
Christianised,  and  several  stations  had  been  erected,  to  wards  the  close 
of  the  seventeenth  and  in  the  earlier  part  of  the  eignteenth  century. 
Those  missionaries  were  succeeded  by  the  Franciscans  and  Domini¬ 
cans.5  The  Bay  of  Monterey  had  been  selected  by  the  Spaniards, 
as  the  chief  port  of  entry  from  the  Pacific,  and  there  a  settlement 
had  been  formed ;  but  the  growth  of  a  white  population  was  slow, 
even  after  Mexico  had  revolted  from  Spain.  The  mineral  and  agri¬ 
cultural  resources  of  that  extensive  territory  had  yet  to  receive  proper 
development. 

On  the  30th  of  May  1848,  the  treaty  between  the  United  States 
and  Mexico  was  ratified,  when  California  and  New  Mexico6  were  ceded 


'  See  William  Jay’s  “Review  of  the 
Causes  and  Consequences  of  the  Mexi¬ 
can  War.”  Boston,  1849,  8vo. 

2  See  William  H.  Emory’s  “  Report 
of  the  United  States  and  Mexican 
Boundary  Survey.”  Washington, 
1857,  4to.  This  is  a  magnificently 
illustrated  work. 

3  See  John  Hayward’s  “  Gazetteer  of 
the  United  States  of  America,”  p. 
106,  Hartford,  1855,  8vo. 

4  See  “  Voyage  Round  the  World  by 
\Vay  of  the  Great  South  Sea.”  This 


thick  octavo  volume,  with  map  and 
plate,  appeared  in  1757. 

5  See  John  Gilmary  Shea’s  “History 
of  the  Catholic  Church  within  the 
Limits  of  the  United  States,  from  the 
first  attempted  Colonization  to  the 
present  Time,”  Vol.  iv.,  Book  vi., 
chap,  v.,  pp.  329  to  357. 

6  Some  of  the  descriptive  works  of 
great  interest  hitherto  published  on 
New  Mexico  and  California  are : 
“  Congressional  Reports  on  New  Mexi¬ 
co  and  California,”  Plates  and  Maps 


3G2 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


to  the  former  power.  This  gave  a  continuous  line  of  Pacific  Coast  from 
south  to  north,  joining  Oregon,7  and  reaching  to  the  British  possessions 
in  Canada.  However,  this  annexation  of  territory  having  come  as  free 
soil  into  the  United  States,  southern  passions  were  once  more  revived, 
and  John  C.  Calhoun,  although  ill  and  physically  weak  at  the  time, 
still  persistently  demanded,  that  the  holders  of  slaves  were  entitled  to 
emigrate  thither  and  to  colonise,  without  detriment  to  their  fortunes  or 
positions  as  slave-holders.  This  policy  was  resolutely  opposed  by  the 
talented  and  eloquent  Senator  of  Missouri,  Thomas  Hart  Benton,8  so 
that  a  hitter  contest  took  place  between  both  of  these  able  adversa¬ 
ries.9 

When  James  Knox  Polk’s  term  of  office  had  expired,  the  Whig 
General  Zachary  Taylor 10  was  inaugurated  President,  and  Millard  Fil- 
more  of  New  York  was  recognised  as  Vice-President.11  The  subject 
of  slavery  extension  or  repression,  in  the  newly  acquired  territories,  w'as 
then  agitated.  The  settlers  were  mostly  from  the  Free  States,  and  in 
February  1850,  they  adopted  a  constitution  which  prohibited  slavery 
within  the  bounds  claimed  for  California.  This  proposal  excited  the 
most  violent  opposition ;  while  some  of  the  very  extreme  men  of  the 
South  declared  for  secession,  in  case  that  area  for  slaveiy  extension 
were  restricted.  On  both  sides,  discussion  became  very  acrimonious  in 
Congress.  It  was  settled  by  a  compromise  however,  on  the  admission 
of  California  into  the  Union,  September  5th,  1850, 12  as  a  free  State.13 
Having  been  stricken  with  bilious  fever,  General  Taylor  died,  after  a 
short  presidency  of  only  one  year  and  four  months,  and  during  the  term 
of  his  administration,  on  July  5th  1850.  Millard  Filmore  then  succeeded 
in  office.14  The  latter  had  not  the  advantage  of  an  early  education,  and 
he  was  in  a  great  measure  self-instructed,  while  engaged  as  an  appren¬ 
tice  to  a  wool-comber ;  but  afterwards  he  became  a  lawyer,  and  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  Congress.  His  cabinet  was  composed  of  talented  and  enligh- 


by  Lieut.  Emory  Albert  Cook,  and 
Johnson;  also,  “Notes  of  Travels  in 
California,”  by  Colonel  Fremont  and 
Major  Emory. 

7  For  further  information  the  reader 
is  referred  to  Greenhow’s  “  History  of 
Oregon  and  California.” 

8  See  an  account  of  him  in  Apple- 
inn’s  ‘  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Bio¬ 
graphy,”  Yol.  i.,  p.  242. 

9  Before  his  death  in  Washington, 
April  10th  1858,  Thomas  H.  Benton 
edited  an  “  Abridgment  of  the  De¬ 
bates  of  Congress  from  1789  to  1850,” 
in  fifteen  volumes,  New  York.  Sub¬ 
sequently,  Vol.  xvi.  of  this  work  was 
published  in  1861. 

10  He  was  opposed  by  Louis  Cass, 
in  the  Democratic  interest.  The 
latter  was  bom  in  Exeter  N.H.,  Oct. 


9th  1782,  and  he  was  the  son  of 
Jonathan  Cass  of  Irish  extraction. 
See  H.  R.  Schoolcraft’s  “  Life  of  the 
Hon.  Louis  Cass.”  1848.  8vo. 

11  He  was  born  in  New  York,  Janu¬ 
ary  7th  1800.  He  w'as  inaugurated 
President,  July  10th,  1850.  He  died 
in  New  York,  March  8th  1874. 

12  See  L.  de  Colange’s  “  National 
Gazetteer  of  the  United  States,”  p. 
179. 

13  See  “Abraham  Lincoln,  a  His¬ 
tory,”  by  John  C.  Nicolay  and  John 
Hay,  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xviii.,  pp.  527  to 
329.  New  York  and  London,  1890, 
et  seq.  8vo. 

14  See  Fisher’s  and  Colby’s  “  Ameri¬ 
can  Statistical  Annual  ”  for  the  year 
1854,  p.  19. 


THE  SUCCESSION  DEVOLVES  ON  MILLARD  FILMORE.  363 

tened  men ;  while  the  policy  of  peace  preservation  at  home  and 
abroad  became  their  ruling  principle,  especially  by  endeavouring  to 
repress  internal  revolutions  in  the  island  of  Cuba.  These  dis¬ 
turbances  were  greatly  fomented  by  interested  and  reckless  agencies 
throughout  the  United  States.15 

The  seventh  census  of  the  United  States  was  taken  in  1850.  when 
the  population  was  found  to  be  23,191,074.  In  the  commencement  of 
the  last  century,  the  number  of  people  in  Ireland  had  reached  to  over 
5,000,000.  In  1821,  the  Irish  Census  Commissioners  gave  their  first 
complete  enumeration  at  6,801,827.  In  1831,  they  stated  it  at 
7,657,401.  The  population  of  Ireland,  as  returned  by  the  census  in  1841, 
was  8, 196, 597. 16  Soon  afterwards,  and  chiefly  owing  to  a  succession 
of  famine  years,  it  began  to  decrease.  In  the  year  1851,  the  popula¬ 
tion  had  been  reduced  to  6,574,278,  while  in  the  year  1861  it  had  still 
further  decreased  to  5,798,967.  The  total  number  of  Irish,  who  left 
the  United  Kingdom  between  1841  and  1851,  was  1,240, 737. 17  The 
number  of  persons  emigrating  from  Irish  ports,  during  the  period  from 
1st  April  1851  to  7th  April  1861,  according  to  the  returns  obtained 
by  the  Registrar-General,  was  1,208,350.18  The  vast  majority  of  those 
emigrants  left  this  country  for  the  United  States  of  America.19 

On  the  4th  of  July  1851,  the  corner  stone  of  the  Capitol  extension 
was  laid  at  Washington.  Meantime,  when  President  Taylor’s  cabinet 
had  resigned  consequent  on  his  death,  Mr.  Filmore  appointed  Daniel 
Webster20  as  Secretaiy  of  State,21  with  an  exceedingly  able  staff  of 
co-labourers  in  the  administration.22  Whatever  the  wisdom  of  Fili- 
more’s  course  may  have  been,  his  great  desire  was  to  quell  those  differ¬ 
ences  of  policy  that  actuated  the  leaders  of  party,  north  and  south,  and 
to  preserve  tranquillity  throughout  ti  e  States.  One  of  his  earliest  official 
acts  was  to  send  a  military  force  to  New  Mexico,  in  order  to  protect 
that  territory  from  invasion  threatened  by  Texas,  and  in  reference  to 


15  See  M.  le  Dr.  Hoefer’s  “  Nou- 
velle  Biographie  Generate,  ”  Tome 
xvii.,  Art.  Fillmore  ( Millard )  cols. 
697  to  699. 

16  See  Thom’s  “Irish  Almanack  and 
Official  Directory  ”  for  1871,  p.  880. 

17  See  W.  J.  Bromwell’s  “  History 
of  Immigration  to  the  United  States, 
exhibiting  the  Number,  Age,  Sex, 
Occupation,  &c.,  of  Passengers  ar¬ 
riving  in  the  United  States,  with 
Naturalization  and  Passenger  Laws,” 
&c.  1856,  8vo. 

“See  “The  General  Report  of  the 
Census  of  Ireland  for  the  year  1861,” 
part  v.,  pp.  ix.,  xiii.  Dublin,  1864. 

19  Sea  the  “  Annual  Reports  and  Laws 
of  the  Commissioners  of  Emigration 
of  New  York,  from  May  5th  1847, 
to  1860,  inclusive,  with  Tables  and 


Official  Documents,”  New  York,  1861, 
8vo. 

20  The  “  Life  of  Webster  ”  has  been 
written  by  George  Ticknor  Curtis,  in 
two  volumes.  New  York,  1870.  8vo. 

21  See  Webster’s  “Works,”  with  a 
biographical  sketch  by  Edward  Ever¬ 
ett,  in  six  volumes.  Boston,  1851,  8vo. 

22  These  were  Thomas  Corwin,  Sec¬ 
retary  of  the  Treasury ;  William  A. 
Graham,  Secretary  of  the  Navy ; 
Charles  M.  Conrad,  Secretary  of  War ; 
Alexander  H.  H.  Stuart,  Secretary  of 
the  Interior;  John  J.  Crittenden, 
Attorney-General ;  and  Nathan  K. 
Hall,  Postmaster-General.  Of  these, 
Daniel  Webster  died,  while  Messrs. 
Graham  and  Hall  retired  in  1852, 
these  being  replaced  respectively  by 
Edward  Everett,  John  P.  Kennedy, 
and  Samuel  B.  Hubbard. 


364  IRISH-AM ERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


its  disputed  boundary.23  On  the  '21st  December,  the  Congressional 
Library  at  Washington  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

Contrary  to  the  approval  of  Daniel  Webster,24  a  number  of  compro¬ 
mise  measures  were  introduced,  which  were  intended  to  tide  over  exist¬ 
ing  political  difficulties.  Among  the  most  objectionable,  the  Fugitive 
Slave-law  was  passed  and  sought  to  be  enforced,  although  it  was  most 
obnoxious  to  a  large  portion  of  the  northern  Whig  party,  and  to  all  the 
anti-slavery  men.  Its  object  was  to  compel  the  return  of  escaped 
negroes  to  their  former  masters.  Its  execution  came  to  be  resisted  in 
several  instances  throughout  the  free  States,  and  several  escaped  slaves 
were  rescued  from  custody  of  the  United  States  marshals,  even  with 
loss  of  life.25 

At  a  subsequent  election,  Franklin  Pierce  of  New  Hampshire25  was 
returned  by  a  great  majority  of  votes  over  General  Scott  the  Whig 
candidate,27  and  he  was  inaugurated  President,  on  the  4th  of  March 
1853.  His  cabinet  was  selected  from  various  sections  of  the  country  ; 
and  among  the  most  eminent  members  of  it  were  Messrs.  Marcy,  Guthrie, 
Caleb  Cushing28  and  Jefferson  Davis.29  The  Vice-President  was  William 
R.  King  of  Alabama.  For  the  two  first  years  of  his  presidency,  Pierce 
was  greatly  influenced  in  his  policy  by  the  most  ardent  men  of  the  Demo¬ 
cratic  party  ;  and  thence  resulted  grave  complications  with  Mexico,  as 
also  with  Spain,  on  the  subject  of  Cuba,  and  moreover  with  England  re¬ 
garding  the  Clay ton-Bulwer  treaty . 30  However,  the  abilities  of  Marcy, 


23  See  Chamberlain’s  “  Biography  of 
Millard  Fillmore,”  Buffalo,  1856,  8vo. 

24  See  “  Webster’s  Private  Corres¬ 
pondence,”  edited  by  his  son  Fletcher 
Webster,  in  two  volumes.  Boston, 
1856,  8vo. 

25  See  Thomas  Hart  Benton’s 
“Thirty  Years’  View,”  the  first  vol¬ 
ume  of  which  appeared  in  1854,  the 
second  and  last  in  1856.  New  York,  8vo. 

26  He  was  of  Irish  descent,  and  his 
father  Benjamin  had  already  distin¬ 
guished  himself  in  the  revolutionary 
war  by  his  courage  and  services,  re¬ 
tiring  in  1784  with  the  rank  of  captain, 
having  then  devoted  himself  to  legal 
studies.  Afterwards,  his  son  Frank¬ 
lin,  who  was  born  in  New  Hampshire, 
November  23rd  1804,  became  Member 
of  Congress  and  Senator  of  the  United 
States,  retiring  from  a  legislative 
career  to  pusue  his  legal  avocations  in 
1842.  However,  on  the  breaking  out 
of  the  war  with  Mexico,  he  volun¬ 
teered  as  a  private  soldier  in  a  com¬ 
pany  formed  at  Concord  N.H.  In 
March  1847,  he  was  created  Brigadier- 
General.  He  served  at  Vera  Cruz, 
and  took  part  in  the  sanguinary  bat¬ 


tles  fought  at  Molino  del  Rey  and 
Chapultepec.  At  the  Democratic  Con¬ 
vention  in  Baltimore  June  1852,  he 
was  nominated  for  the  office  of  Presi¬ 
dent  by  that  party.  He  died  October 
8th  1869. 

27  Of  the  296  votes,  then  comprising 
the  electoral  college,  Pierce  obtained 
254,  and  Scott  only  42. 

28  He  wrote  a  valuable  work, 
“  Growth  and  Territorial  Progress  of 
the  United  States,”  published  in  1839, 
as  also  many  other  works.  See  Apple¬ 
ton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Bio¬ 
graphy,”  Vol.  ii. ,  pp.  38,  39. 

29  The  Life  of  this  remarkable 
man — the  well-known  President  of 
the  Southern  Confederacy  in  after 
years — has  been  written  by  an  ad¬ 
mirer,  Frank  H.  Alfriend,  and  it  was 
published  in  New  York  1868,  while 
that  by  Edward  A.  Pollard,  with  the 
sub-title  “  Secret  History  of  the  Con¬ 
federacy,”  published  in  Philadelphia 
1869,  holds  him  to  have  been  mainly 
resposible  for  that  disastrous  war. 

30  See  Thompson’s  “  Presidents  and 
their  Administrations,”  Indianapolis, 
1873,  8vo. 


THE  NATIVE  AMERICAN  PARTY. 


365 

Secretary  of  State,  were  successfully  employed  in  composing  those  difficul¬ 
ties.31  In  1854,  a  large  purchase  :J  territory  from  Mexico  was  made 
by  the  United  States.32  This  same  year,  the  Illinois  Senator  Stephen 
A.  Douglas  introduced  a  Bill,  which  virtually  repealed  the  Missouri 
compromise  of  1820,  and  which  provided  for  the  creation  of  two  new 
territories,  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  on  the  basis  of  what  was  called 
popular  or  squatter  sovereignty,  it  being  intended  that  the  settlers 
there  might  determine  for  themselves  whether  in  the  event  of  their  be¬ 
coming  States,  slavery  should  be  admitted  or  excluded.  This  procedure 
was  favoured  by  the  Administration  and  by  the  Democratic  party  in 
general,  while  it  was  opposed  by  the  anti-slavery  party.  However,  the 
measure  became  law  in  the  month  of  May.  The  most  disastrous  results 
ensued,  when  Kansas  became  the  scene  of  disorder  and  violence.33 
Every  effort  was  made  by  the  people  living  in  the  Eastern  States  to 
despatch  immigrants  thither,  and  who  would  be  disposed  to  vote  for 
free  soil ;  while  from  the  South,  and  especially  from  Missouri,  the  par¬ 
tisans  of  slavery  moved  thither  as  settlers — many  only  for  a  time,  and 
in  order  to  acquire  the  right  to  vote  on  that  question.  Soon  rival 
legislatures  were  set  up,  and  afterwards  dissolved  by  armed  and  hostile 
bands  ;  murders  and  riots  succeeded  ;  at  the  elections,  wholesale  frauds 
were  practised,  and  voters  were  driven  forcibly  from  the  polling  places. 

The  necessity  for  explorations  and  surveys,  to  ascertain  the  most 
practicable  route  for  railroads  extending  from  the  Mississippi  River  to 
the  Pacific  Ocean,  now  occupied  the  attention  of  Congress.34  Sectional 
differences,  with  sectarian  and  party  prejudice,  began  to  increase. 
Jealousy  for  the  growth  of  a  Democratic  party,  favourable  to  the  con¬ 
tinuance  or  spread  of  slavery,  with  an  increase  of  the  foreign  voting 
element,  supposed  to  be  largely  influenced  by  their  agents,  mainly  con¬ 
tributed,  but  only  for  a  short  time,  to  the  existence  of  a  new  political 
organization.  This  “  Native  American  ”  party — as  it  had  been  called — 
advocated  the  restriction  of  the  franchise,  and  urged  that  it  should  be 
curtailed,  so  far  as  it  applied  to  the  immigrant  population  of  the  States. 
That  party  also  developed  into  a  secret  society,  called  the  “  Know 
Nothings,”  and  it  selected  Millard  Filmore  as  their  candidate  for  Presi¬ 
dent  in  1856  ;  but,  when  that  election  took  place,  he  only  received  the 
eight  electoral  votes  in  his  own  State  of  Maryland.  Still  the  “  Native 
Americans  ”  were  mainly  actuated  by  intolerant  sentiments  against 


31  See  M.  le  Dr.  Hoefer’s  “  Nou- 
velle  Biographie  Generale,”  Tome  xl., 
Art.  Pierce  {Franklin),  cols.  124  to 
127. 

32  See  Hubert  H.  Bancroft’s  “  His¬ 
tory  of  the  Pacific  States,  Mexico,” 
Vol.  v.,  chap,  xiii.,  San  Francisco, 
1885. 

33  See  “  Abraham  Lincoln,  a  His¬ 
tory,”  by  John  G.  Nicolay  and  John 
Hay.  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xxii.,  pp.  393 

to  407. 


34  Valuable  Congressional  Reports  in 
twelve  large  quarto  volumes  were  pub¬ 
lished  in  1855,  at  Washington,  and  fur¬ 
nished  the  most  useful  topographical 
statistical  and  historical  information 
regarding  the  great  Western  Terri¬ 
tories.  These  volumes  are  profusely 
illustrated  with  maps  and  engrav¬ 
ings.  They  served  to  lay  out  the 
roads  and  lines  of  route  for  future 
railways,  as  also  to  promote  industry 
and  commerce. 


366 


IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Catholics ;  and,  through  the  New  England  States,  it  was  especially 
manifested  by  many  aggressive  menaces  in  mob  hostility,  and  even  in 
the  perpetration  of  several  outrages.35 

An  effort  had  been  made  by  the  Administration  to  purchase  Cuba 
from  Spain,  as  urged  by  the  Southern  politicians  ;  and  accordingly, 
President  Pierce  suggested  the  holding  of  a  conference  by  the  American 
Ministers  to  Spain,  England  and  France,  to  consider  the  question 
at  Ostend  in  1854.  The  result  of  their  deliberations  was  a  memo¬ 
randum  addressed  to  the  President  and  declaring,  that  Cuba  was  a 
necessary  annexation  for  the  United  States ;  that  it  was  a  duty  to 
prevent  emancipation  of  slaves  in  the  Island ;  and  that  if  Spain  refused 
to  sell  it,  the  United  States  would  be  justified  in  taking  forcible  pos¬ 
session.  These  declarations  created  great  indignation  throughout  the 
Free  States,  and  the  agitation  of  that  subject  was  set  in  abeyance  by 
the  Cabinet. 

Most  violent  and  factious  quarrels  between  the  free-soil  and  pro¬ 
slavery  men  developed  into  something  like  civil  war  in  the  territory  of 
Kansas.  Governor  Andrew  H.  Reeder  arrived  at  Leavenworth  in 
October  1854  ;  but  he  soon  found  it  necessary  to  check  the  endeavours 
of  the  Missouri  invaders  of  the  territory,  designated  “  Border  Ruf¬ 
fians,”  who  claimed  a  right  to  vote  at  the  ensuing  elections.  Mean¬ 
time,  towards  the  close  of  1855,  a  Convention  assembled  at  Topeka 
had  framed  a  Free  State  Constitution,  which  was  submitted  to  the 
legal  voters,  and  it  received  popular  endorsement.  The  Pierce  Admi¬ 
nistration  then  deposed  Governor  Reeder  because  he  favoured  this 
movement,  which  was  declared  to  be  insurrectionary.  Governor  Shan¬ 
non  was  appointed  to  succeed,  and  he  gave  every  possible  countenance 
to  the  pro-slavery  faction. 

Anti-slavery  sentiments  and  interests  soon  began  very  generally  to 
prevail,  and  the  feeling  aroused,  especially  among  the  New  Englanders, 
came  more  openly  into  collision  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  southern 
slave  States.  The  war  with  Mexico  begun  in  the  interests  of  slavery,30 
and  ended  in  the  organization  of  a  free  State  in  California,  with  free 
territories  belting  the  continent  so  far  as  the  Pacific  Ocean.  This  gave 
a  rude  shock  to  the  initial  dream  of  a  universal  slave  empire ;  and  it 
was  virtually  obliterated,  when  the  failure  to  colonize  Kansas,  and  to 
coerce  its  adoption  of  slavery  by  the  appliance  of  Federal  power,  showed 
the  progressive  bent  of  public  opinion.  Thenoeforward,  nothing  was 
left  between  the  steadily  increasing  anti-slavery  sentiment  of  the  North 
and  the  slave  systems  of  the  South,  but  a  precarious  hold  on  the  Gene¬ 
ral  Government.  An  almost  autocratic  control  of  their  own  State  Go¬ 
vernments  led  to  the  adoption  of  desperate  but  most  impolitic  measures 
in  the  South,  to  obtain  an  ascendancy  over  the  Free  States.  Although 


35  Various  cases  are  furnished  in  the 
Fourth  Volume  of  John  Gilmary 
Shea’s  “  History  of  the  Catholic 
Church  within  the  Limits  of  the 


United  States,”  Books  vii.,  viii.,  ix., 
x.,  xi. 

36 See  A.  A.  Livermores  “  War  with 
Mexico  reviewed,”  Boston,  1850,  8vo. 


JAMES  BUCHANAN  ELECTED  PRESIDENT. 


367 


&  Fugitive  Slave-law  had  been  obtained ;  still,  its  provisions  were 
annulled  or  evaded  by  the  Northerners.  These  were  protectionists  in 
principle,  for  the  supposed  encouragement  of  their  domestic  manufac¬ 
tures;  while  the  Southerners,  being  chiefly  engaged  in  agriculture, 
advocated  free  trade  and  a  low  tariff.  The  ambitions  and  jealousies  of 
leading  politicians  and  of  journalists  tended  most  to  fan  the  flames  of 
dissension,  and  to  promote  those  party  divisions. 

The  Republican  party,  which  was  next  formed,  achieved  a  great 
triumph  at  the  opening  of  Congress  in  December  1855,  when  Nathaniel 
P.  Banks  was  elected  as  their  Speaker  in  the  House  of  Representatives. 
That  new  organization  also  put  in  the  field  its  first  candidate  John 
Charles  Fremont,  for  the  Presidencj7,  in  1856. 37  Although  a  native  of 
Savannah  Georgia,  and  educated  in  the  University  of  Charleston,  he 
was  opposed  to  the  extension  of  slavery  in  the  newly  acquired  ter¬ 
ritories,  which  he  had  so  ably  and  adventurously  explored.  In  1850, 
he  had  been  elected  Senator  to  Congress  for  California,  while  he  ob¬ 
tained  great  eminence  in  America  and  in  Europe  as  the  result  of  his 
published  Travels,  which  were  translated  into  different  languages. 
Millard  Filmore  was  the  native  American  candidate  selected.  James 
Buchanan38  of  Pennsylvania,  selected  by  the  Democratic  party,39  was 
advanced  however  to  the  Presidencv.  On  the  4th  of  March  1857,  the 
inauguration  took  place.  Not  long  afterwards,  the  Mormons  laid  claim 
to  a  vast  extent  of  territory  around  Utah,  which  they  hoped  to  reserve 
for  themselves.  Soon  their  prophet  and  governor  Brigham  Young  was 
brought  into  collision  with  the  United  States  officers  appointed  by  the 
President  to  regulate  affairs  in  that  distant  region.  He  raised  troops, 
and  several  immigrants  were  massacred  there  during  the  summer. 
However,  the  President  sent  a  force  of  2,500  troops  to  quell  a  threat¬ 
ened  rebellion,  and  order  was  somewhat  restored. 

A  slave  named  Dred  Scott  had  sued  for  his  freedom  on  the  ground 
that  his  master  had  taken  him  into  the  Free  State  of  Illinois.  An  appeal 
was  taken  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  and  there  it  was 
ruled,  that  a  negro  could  not  become  a  citizen,  while  Chief- Justice 
Taney  stated,  that  the  authors  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
entertained  the  opinion,  as  negroes  were  so  far  inferior  to  their  masters, 
those  slaves  had  no  rights  which  white  men  were  bound  to  respect. 
Moreover,  he  pronounced  the  Missouri  Compromise  Act  to  be  uncon¬ 
stitutional,  because  it  forbid  slavery  in  the  territories  north  of  latitude 
36°  30',  while  he  maintained,  that  Congress  had  no  right  to  interfere 
with  slaves,  as  these  were  private  property.40  This  decision  created 
intense  excitement  and  indignation  throughout  the  north,  where 
the  Abolitionists  were  in  the  greatest  number  ;  and  it  served  to  spread 

37  He  had  married  the  daughter  of  39  See  Joseph  Irving’s  “  Annals  of 
Thomas  H.  Benton.  See  the  "  Bncycio-  Our  Time,”  p.  320. 

pa»Ci..i  Americana.”  Vol.  iii.,  pp.  157, 158  ,  40  See  “Decisions  of  the  Supreme 

38  He  was  Irish  by  descent  anu  Court  of  the  United  States  in  the 

born  April  23rd  1791.  He  died  in  Case  of  Dred  Scott  v.  J.  F.  Sand* 
Pennsylvania,  June  1st  1868.  ford.”  New  York,  1857,  Roy.  8vo. 


368 


IRISII-aMERICAN  history  of  the  united  states. 


their  sentiments,  through  the  medium  of  associations,  of  the  press,  and 
of  popular  agitation.  In  1858,  May  11th,  Minnesota  was  admitted  as 
thirty-second  State  into  the  Union;41  and  also  during  this  year,  the 
first  Atlantic  cable  was  laid  between  Ireland  and  Newfoundland.  The 
originator  of  this  great  project  was  Cyrus  Field  of  New  York.42  How¬ 
ever,  the  first  cable  laid  was  found  to  be  imperfect,  and  it  failed  to 
work  ;  but  eight  years  later,  his  persevering  exertions  were  rewarded 
with  permanent  success.  On  the  4th  of  February  1859, 43  Oregon  was 
organised  and  admitted  as  a  new  State  in  the  Union. 

Meantime,  the  question  of  slavery  had  excited  the  most  violent 
passions  and  recriminations  between  the  Free  and  the  Slave  States. 
Having  a  preponderating  influence  in  Congress,  the  latter  perseveringly 
sought  to  enforce  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law.  The  Abolitionists  formed 
associations  to  aid  slaves  who  desired  to  escape,  and  to  protect  them 
once  they  had  reached  free  soil.  Moreover,  several  of  the  Free  States 
passed  Personal  Liberty  Acts,  to  prevent  the  restitution  of  slaves  to 
their  former  masters,  without  the  trial  by  jury  of  every  individu- 1  claim, 
so  as  to  obstruct  effectually  such  rendition. 

A  heroic  man  named  John  Brown,44  who  had  already  distinguished 
himself  in  Kansas  by  his  ardent  zeal  to  abolish  slavery,  had  there 
gathered  a  little  band  of  from  fifteen  to  twenty  resolute  adventurers.45 
With  these,  his  name  soon  become  a  terror  in  the  lawless  guerilla  war¬ 
fare  of  that  time.  In  course  of  those  skirmishes  one  of  his  sons  was 
killed  and  another  was  mortally  wounded.  During  the  years  1857  and 
1858,  meditating  and  conspiring  with  other  abolitionists  in  the  Eastern 
States,  he  returned  to  Kansas,  where  he  headed  an  armed  foray  into 
Missouri,  whence  he  carried  away  eleven  slaves  into  Canada.  But  he 
resolved  on  a  more  hardy  enterprise.  On  the  1 7 th  of  October  1859, 
having  assembled  a  few  followers,  John  Brown  commenced  a  raid  at 
Harper’s  Ferry,  with  a  view  to  raise  an  insurrection  among  the  negroes 
in  Virginia.  This  attempt  was  unsuccessful,  however,  and  he  was  cap 
tured.  Having  through  his  energy  and  personal  exertions  greatly  aided 
to  liberate  Kansas  from  the  stigma  of  slavery,  John  Brown  then  paid 
with  the  forfeit  of  his  life  that  stern  sense  of  opposition  so  long  exercised 

with  the  first  rush  of  emigrants  to 
Kansas,  four  of  his  sons  moved 
thither,  and  when  the  Border  Ruffian 
hostilities  broke  out,  he  followed 
them  with  arms  and  money  contri¬ 
buted  in  the  North. 

45  It  has  been  stated,  that  while 
camping  out  in  Kansas,  he  prayed 
very  fervently,  and  saw  visions ; 
while  he  believed,  that  he  wielded  the 
Lord’s  sword  and  that  of  Gideon, 
also  having  faith  that  angels  encom¬ 
passed  him.  “  One  man  on  the  right, 
and  ready  to  die,”  he  said,  “  will 
chase  a  thousand.”  See  James  Red- 
path's  “  Life  of  John  Brown,”  p.  48. 


41  See  Dr.  F.  De  Colange’s  “  Na¬ 
tional  Gazetteer  of  the  United 
States,”  p.  650. 

42  See  an  account  of  him  in  the 
“  Encyclopeedia  Americana,”  Vol.  iii. , 
p.  38. 

43  See  Dr.  L.  Colange’s  “  National 
Gazetteer  of  the  United  States,”  p. 
755. 

44  He  was  born  at  Torrington  State 
of  Connecticut,  in  1800.  Having 
devoted  his  life  to  the  emancipation 
of  slaves,  and  having  become  an  en¬ 
thusiastic  abolitionist,  eleven  of  his 
children  were  living  in  1854;  when, 


James  Buchanan, 

Fifteenth  President  of  the  U.S 


Abraham  Lincoln, 

Sixteenth  President  of  the  U.S. 


Robert- Edward  Lee, 

Commander-m-Chief  of  Confederate  Army. 


Jefferson  Davis, 

President  of  the  Confederate  States 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN  ELECTED  PRESIDENT.  369 

against  the  hated  institution.46  Having  been  wounded  and  disabled  he 
was  subjected  to  a  form  of  trial,  and  before  the  court  having  proclaimed 
his  hatred  of  slavery,  he  was  condemned  to  death,  and  hanged  on  the  2nd 
December,  that  same  year.  Some  of  his  companions  were  executed  a 
few  days  subsequent.47 

The  President  resisted  for  a  time  the  admission  of  Kansas  as  a  free 
State  into  the  Union.  Within  that  territory  the  rival  parties  stood  in 
hostile  array  against  each  other,  and  peace  was  only  maintained,  through 
the  agency  of  United  States  troops.  JSTo  less  than  six  Governors  had 
been  successively  appointed  by  the  President.  Two  of  these  had  been 
removed.  Three  of  them  resigned  their  offices,  in  despair  of  effecting 
any  favourable  issue.  However,  on  the  29th  of  January  1861, 48  Kansas 
became  a  free  State,  in  accordance  with  the  votes  of  a  great  majority  of 
its  inhabitants.  Then  the  Anti-Slavery  party  soon  drew  within  its 
vortex  all  other  political  organizations  in  the  Free  States,  excepting  the 
old  Democratic  party.  Under  the  name  of  the  Republican  party,  a 
consolidated  front  was  opposed  to  the  assumed  slavery  interests.49 
Hopeless  disunion  spread  in  the  Democratic  ranks,  and  the  irrepressible 
conflict  was  hastened  on,  when  their  convention  for  the  election  of  a 
President  sat  at  Charleston  and  Baltimore  in  the  spring  and  summer  of 
I860.50  Dissensions  prevailed,  and  the  candidates  selected  for  Presi¬ 
dent  and  Vice-President  were  defeated  at  the  ensuing  election  in 
November,  when  Abraham  Lincoln  of  Illinois51  was  chosen  as  President, 
and  Hannibal  Hamlin  of  Maine  became  Vice-President.  This  contest 
was  a  trial  of  strength  between  the  Northern  and  Southern  States.  The 
latter  were  foiled  and  defeated,  as  a  result  of  the  election.52  The  die 
was  thus  irrevocably  cast,  for  the  agitators  of  the  cotton  States  had 
openly  declared  a  purpose,  to  secede  from  the  Northern  States  in  the 
event  of  electoral  success  in  the  latter. 

South  Carolina  was  the  first  of  the  Southern  States  to  institute  active 
measures  for  withdrawing  from  the  Union  on  the  election  of  Mr.  Lincoln, 
and  it  was  the  first  to  decree  an  ordinance  of  Secession.  On  Nov.  7th 
1860,  an  Act  was  passed  by  its  Legislature  calling  a  State  Convention. 


46  See  “Life  and  Letters  of  John 
Brown,’’  edited  by  F.  B.  Sanborn, 
with  Portrait.  Boston,  cr.  8vo. 

47  See  Pierre  Larousse’s  “  Grand 
Dictionnaire  Universelle  du  XIXe 
Siecle,”  Tome  ii.,  p.  1324.  Art. 
Brown  (John),  abolitionniste  Ameri- 
cain. 

48  See  L.  de  Colange’s  “  National 
Gazetteer  of  the  United  States,”  p.  521. 

49  See  President  Buchanan’s  “  Ad¬ 
ministration  on  the  Eve  of  the  Rebel¬ 
lion  :  a  History  of  Four  Years  before 
the  War,”  chap,  ii.,  p.  48,  London, 
1865,  8vo. 

50  As  shown  in  the  Report  of  their 
Proceedings. 


51  This  illustrious  man  was  born  on 
the  Big  South  Fork  of  Nolin  Creek, 
in  La  Rue  County,  about  three  miles 
from  Hodgensville,  in  the  State  of 
Kentucky,  February  12th  1809. 

52  In  1860,  the  total  number  of 
slaves  in  the  United  States  was 
3,953,587.  Thus,  Kentucky  had 
225,483 ;  Tennessee,  275,719 ;  Mary¬ 
land,  87,189 ;  Missouri,  114,931 ; 
Delaware,  1,798;  Western  Virginia, 
12,754 ;  the  seventeen  counties  of 
Eastern  Virginia  counted  26,561. 
There  were  29  slaves  in  Utah,  and  15 
in  Nebraska.  The  total  number  of 
slaves  in  Louisiana  was  221,726. 

2  B 


370 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  TIIE  UNITED  STATES. 


On  the  same  day,  the  United  States  officials  in  Charleston  resigned,  and 
on  the  11th,  the  South  Carolina  Senators  withdrew  from  the  United 
States  Senate.  An  election  of  delegates  having  been  held  on  December 
6th,  the  Convention  assembled  at  Charleston  on  the  18th,  and  it  passed 
the  ordinance  of  Secession  on  the  20th, 03  without  a  dissenting  vote. 
Commissioners  were  appointed  to  visit  Washington,  and  to  treat  with 
President  Buchanan  for  possession  of  the  Federal  property  within  the 
limits  of  their  state,  while  others  were  sent  to  the  slave-holding  states, 
to  invite  their  co-operation  and  to  aid  in  the  formation  of  a  Southern 
Confederacy.  Their  representatives  in  Congress  had  withdrawn,  more¬ 
over,  and  Governor  Pickens  proclaimed  the  dissolution  of  the  Union 
between  South  Carolina  and  other  States  of  the  North.  Fort  Moultrie 
and  Castle  Pinckney  were  soon  afterwards  seized  by  the  State  of  South 
Carolina. 

Abraham  Lincoln  had  not  yet  as  entered  on  his  term  of  office  ;  but 
on  the  9th  of  January  1861  President  Buchanan  announced  in  his 
message  to  Congress,  that  the  arsenals,  magazines  and  forts  of  the  Union 
had  been  seized  in  some  States,  although  these  had  not  formally  seceded. 
Early  in  that  year,  the  States  of  Mississippi,  on  January  9th,  of  Florida, 
January  10th,  of  Alabama,  January  1 1th,  of  Georgia  January  19th, 
and  of  Louisiana  on  January  26th,  practically  seceded.54  Their  example 
was  followed  by  Texas,  on  the  1st  of  February.  The  people  in  these 
States  seized  on  all  the  forts,  arsenals,  custom  houses,  and  other  Federal 
property  within  them.  Virginia,  Arkansas,  Tennessee,  and  North  Caro¬ 
lina  joined  that  confederacy  during  the  spring  and  summer  months.55 
The  slave  States  of  Maryland  and  Delaware  were  bound  to  the  North, 
however,  owing  to  their  geographical  position.  The  area  of  these  eleven 
seceding  States  comprised  767,893  square  miles,56  being  about  eight 
times  the  size  of  Great  Britain.  Sympathisers  in  other  States  endea¬ 
voured  to  aid  the  movement;57  however,  except  in  Missouri  and  Ken¬ 
tucky — also  Slave  states — they  failed  to  affect  very  important  co-opera¬ 
tion.  The  Southerners  seemed  desirous  of  precipitating  a  civil  war,  but 


53  See  Joseph  Irving’s  “  Annals  of 
our  Time,”  p.  434. 

54  See  John  R.  G.  Hansard’s  “  His¬ 
tory  of  the  United  States  of  Amer¬ 
ica,”  Part  Fifth.  The  Civil  War, 
chap.  li. ,  p.  313. 

55  See  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fletcher’s 
“  History  of  the  American  War  from 
1861  to  1865,”  vol.  i.,  chap.  ii. ,  p.  19. 
London,  1865,  8vo.  This  work,  by  an 
officer  of  the  Scots  Fusilier  Guards, 
in  three  volumes,  is  admirably  illus¬ 
trated,  with  topographical  plans  of 
the  battles  during  the  war  from  1860 
to  1865. 

56  The  free  population  of  these 
States  was  estimated  in  1860,  at 


5,581,649,  and  the  slave  population, 
at  3,520,116;  making  a  total  of 
9,101,765.  The  four  other  slave 
states— Delaware,  Maryland,  Kentucky 
and  Missouri — contained  a  free  popu¬ 
lation  of  2,698,841,  and  a  slave  popu¬ 
lation  of  429,441. 

57  See  that  valuable  work,  “  His- 
toiro  de  la  Guerre  Civile  en  Ameri- 
que,”  par  M.  le  Comte  de  Paris. 
Tome  Premier.  Paris,  1874,  et  seq., 
8vo.  Not  only  was  the  author  an 
actor  and  observer  of  the  war,  in 
which  he  served  as  a  volunteer  in  the 
United  States  armies,  but  he  had 
access  to  the  most  excellent  authori¬ 
ties  for  the  authentication  of  his 
statements. 


FORMATION  OF  THE  SOUTHERN  CONFEDRACY.  371 

the  Northerners  wished  to  avoid  it SR ;  while  many  patriotic  and  wise 
men  on  both  sides  dreaded  the  results  of  what  appeared  to  be  an  im¬ 
pending  and  inevitable  conflict. 

A  convention  of  the  seceded  States  was  held  at  Montgomery  Ala¬ 
bama,  on  the  4th  of  February.  There,  on  the  8th  of  that  month,  a 
constitution  for  the  Confederate  States  was  voted  by  the  Assembly  ; 
while  Jefferson  Davis'*9  of  Mississippi  was  elected  Provisional  Presi¬ 
dent,  and  Alexander  H.  Stephens'50  of  Georgia  was  named  Vice  Presi¬ 
dent  of  the  Confederate  States.  These  leaders  in  the  movement  soon 
assumed  all  the  functions  of  their  respective  offices.  They  resolved  to 
act,  without  any  attempt  to  have  their  proceedings  sanctioned  by  a 
popular  vote.  Meanwhile,  officers  in  the  United  States  army  and  navy 
of  southern  proclivities  tendered  their  resignations,  and  prepared  to  take 
service  in  the  military  and  naval  organisations  about  to  be  established. 
Recruiting  for  the  army  of  the  South  went  on  with  great  activity,  and 
a  Navy  Department  was  formed.61 

Actual  hostilities  had  already  commenced.  Fort  Sumter,  at  the 
entrance  to  Charleston  Harbour  and  commanded  by  Major  Anderson, 
still  held  out,  and  Fort  Pickens  at  Mobile  was  saved  by  Lieutenant 
Slammer.  Vessels  were  despatched  with  troops  and  stores,  to  relieve 
Fort  Sumter  and  other  defences  at  Charleston,  so  as  to  prevent  them 
falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Confederates.  The  militia  of  the  South 
were  ready  and  equipped,  while  they  assembled  from  all  sides  ;  the 
North  was  comparatively  disarmed  and  taken  by  surprise,  while  the 
President’s  irresolution  and  weakness  of  character,  combined  with  in¬ 
sincere  professions  of  compromise  and  concession,  had  paralysed  greatly 
the  decisions  of  Congress,  as  also  patriotism  and  activity  among  all  true 
lovers  of  the  Union. 

President  Lincoln’s  inauguration  followed  on  the  4th  of  March.62 


58  See  Henri  Martin’s  “  Histoire  de 
France  depuis  1789,  jusq’  a  nos 
Jours,”  Tome  vi.,  chap,  viii.,  pp.  302, 
303. 

59  This  able  and  ambitious  man  has 
written  a  remarkable  work,  entitled, 
“  Rise  and  Fall  of  the  Confederate 
Government.” 

60  At  first,  he  had  argued  against 
secession  ;  but  his  State  having  re¬ 
volted,  he  was  resolved  on  following 
its  fortunes.  In  appointing  him  to 
a  provisional  and  secondary  place,  it 
was  astutely  calculated,  that  others 
who  preserved  any  attachment  to  the 
union  might  be  rallied  under  the  flag 
of  secession. 

61  The  fullest  information  on  its 
origin  and  proceedings  may  be  found 
in  the  “  History  of  the  Confederate 

*  States’  Navy,  from  its  Organization 
to  the  Surrender  of  its  last  Vessel,” 


by  J.  Thomas  Scharf,  A.M.,  LL.D. 
Second  Edition.  Albany,  N.Y., 
1894,  8vo. 

62  A  most  important  historical  con¬ 
tribution,  not  alone  to  the  life-long 
actions  and  services  of  this  distin¬ 
guished  President,  but  also  to  the 
events  of  the  Great  Confederate  Re¬ 
bellion  has  been  written,  and  in  an 
admirable,  manner,  by  John  G.  Nico- 
lay  and  John  Hay  for  “  The  Century 
Magazine,”  in  a  series  of  articles  be¬ 
ginning  in  November  1886  and  closing 
early  in  1890.  In  the  latter  year, 
these  articles  largely  augmented  in 
matter  and  fully  revised  have  ap¬ 
peared,  in  a  series  of  ten  fine  8vo. 
volumes,  bearing  for  title,  “  Abraham 
Lincoln :  A  History,”  This  truly 
magnificent  work  has  been  published 
by  the  New  York  Century  Co.,  and 
by  T.  Fisher  Unwin,  London,  1890, 


372 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Then,  he  declared,  that  the  institution  of  slavery,  where  it  already 
existed  in  the  States,  could  not  legally  be  interfered  with,  nor  should  he 
interfere  with  the  established  lights  of  the  States.63  On  the  same 
occasion,64  he  denounced  the  threatening  attitude  of  the  secessionists, 
and  declared  his  intention  to  maintain  in  every  State  the  laws  of  the 
Union.  The  Southern  officers,  educated  in  the  Military  Academy  at 
Westpoint  who  constituted  a  majority  in  the  United  States  regular 
army,  also  many  of  their  sympathisers  in  the  navy,  renounced  allegiance 
to  the  general  government.65  John  B.  Floyd  of  Virginia,  who  was 
Mr.  Buchanan’s  Secretary  at  War  and  a  zealous  secessionist,  had  trans¬ 
ferred  from  northern  to  southern  arsenals  in  1860  an  immense 
quantity  of  cannon,  muskets,  ammunition  and  other  warlike  stores.66 
The  Southern  leaders,  aware  of  these  treasonable  practices,  promptly 
seized  on  the  military  posts  and  stores  within  their  limits.  The  regular 
army  had  been  scattered  at  remote  posts,  where  its  services  were 
useless,  and  most  of  the  navy  was  on  foreign  stations.  Soon  the  Con¬ 
federates  had  a  large  force  of  volunteers  embodied,  and  well  provided  for 
the  contingencies  of  the  dreadful  civil  war  which  was  about  to  ensue. 

When  President  Lincoln  entered  upon  his  memorable  term  of  office, 
on  the  very  next  day  Major-General  Beauregard  was  despatched  by 
the  Southern  President  Davis,  to  take  command  of  a  force  assembled  at 
Charleston.67  On  the  12th  of  April,  batteries  were  brought  to  bear  on 
Fort  Sumter.  After  a  furious  bombardment  and  with  the  loss  of  a 
few  men,  the  interior  being  in  flames  and  many  of  the  guns  being  dis¬ 
mounted,  the  fort  was  surrendered  by  Major  Anderson  the  United 
States  commandant,  on  the  14th  of  April.  The  garrison  embarked, 
however,  on  board  vessels  which  were  near,  and  sailed  for  New  York. 
This  hostile  proceeding  of  the  Southerners  caused  intense  excitement  and 
indignation  among  the  great  majority  of  people  belonging  to  the 
Northern  States.68 

Terms  of  accommodation  had  been  proposed  by  sincere  lovers  of  the 
Union,  who  wished  to  avoid  the  inevitable  disasters  of  a  civil  war,  to  pro¬ 
ceed  on  a  scale  of  vast  magnitude  ;  but  they  came  to  nothing,  so  violent 
were  the  passions  excited  among  the  Southerners,  especially  by  their  re- 


et  seq.  It  contains  numberless  por¬ 
traits  of  the  distinguished  men,  who 
were  contemporaries  of  President 
Lincoln,  both  on  the  Federal  and 
Confederate  side,  besides  several  maps, 
illustrating  the  localities  where  the 
military  movements  took  place,  with 
plans  of  the  various  battles  fought 
through  the  great  war  of  secession. 

63  On  this  subject,  see  Auguste 
Carlier’s  “  L’Esclavage  dans  ses  Rap¬ 
ports  avec  l’Union  Americaine,'’ 
Paris,  1862. 

64  See  Joseph  Irving’s  “  Annals  of 
our  Time,”  p.  440. 

65  See  M.  le  Comte  de  Paris,  “  His- 


toire  de  la  Guerre  Civile  en  Ameri- 
que,”  Tome  i.,  Liv.  i.,  chap,  iii.,  pp. 
193  to  237. 

66  See  the  “  Encyclopaedia  Ameri¬ 
cana,”  Vol.  iii.,  p.  103. 

67  See  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fletcher’s 
“History  of  the  American  War  from 
1861  to ‘1865,”  vol.  i.,  chap,  iii.,  p. 
36. 

68  A  very  reliable  and  complete  ac¬ 
count  of  those  proceedings  may  be 
found  in  Brevet  Major-General  S.  W. 
Crawford’s  “Genesis  of  the  Civil  Mar, 
the  Story  of  Sumter  1860-61,”  chap 
i.  to  xxxii.,  New  York,  1887,  8vo. 


Attack  on  Fort  Sumter. 


Weston, 


Rich 

Mount  .  o. 


Campaign-Ground  in  West  Virginia. 


TIIE  IRISH  BRIGADE  FORMED. 


373 


cognised  leaders.  Moderate  counsels  were  rejected.  The  South  insisted 
on  separation  and  the  establishment  of  an  independent  Confederacy,  in 
which  slavery  must  be  perpetuated.  The  North  was  conscious  that 
this  precedent  of  secession  once  established,  the  anticipated  future 
grandeur  and  greatness  of  the  American  Republic  could  never  be 
realised.  Before  this  war  of  secession,  the  total  population 69  of  the 
Union  was  31,429,891,  including  the  territories  ;  and  of  this  population, 
eleven  States,  representing  a  little  over  nine  millions,  had  revolted.70 

On  the  15th  of  April,  President  Lincoln  issued  a  proclamation.  In 
this,  he  denounced  those  illegal  combinations  of  the  seven  seceding 
States,  and  he  called  out  the  militia  of  the  United  States  to  the  number 
of  75,000.71  On  the  18th  of  April,  the  arsenal  at  Harper’s  Ferry  was 
captured  by  the  Virginia  militia,  and,  as  secession  was  rife  throughout  all 
that  region,  even  Washington  was  placed  in  great  danger  of  being 
seized.  On  the  20th,  the  navy  yai’d  at  Norfolk,  with  United  States 
ships  and  munitions  of  war  partly  destroyed,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
secessionists.72 

Especially  in  New  England,  New  York  and  the  Middle  States,  the 
volunteer  corps  and  the  militia  promptly,  and  with  enthusiastic  ardour, 
proffered  their  services  to  aid  in  quelling  the  incipient  rebellion.  Fore¬ 
most  among  those  volunteers  was  Colonel  Michael  Corcoran,  who  com¬ 
manded  the  Sixty-ninth  New  York  Regiment,  composed  exclusively  of 
Irish  or  Irish- Americans  to  the  number  of  1,800, 73  and  Catholics  almost 
to  a  man.  Of  these,  1,000  were  ready  for  embarkation  to  defend 
Washington  city,  towards  the  beginning  of  April;  on  the  23rd, 
amid  great  demonstrations  of  popular  rejoicing,  they  marched  through 
New  York  city,74  and  embarked  that  same  evening,  together  with  the 


69  The  aggregate  area  of  the  nine¬ 
teen  free  States  was  then  997,281 
square  miles,  and  the  population,  in 
1860,  reached  to  18,979,695. 

70  For  the  foregoing  and  many  of 
the  following  statements,  the  reader 
is  referred  to  an  interesting  historic  re¬ 
sume,  in  the  “  British  Almanack,” 
for  1864. 

71  See  Joseph  Irving’s  “Annals  of 
our  Time,”  p.  443. 

72  See  Scharf’s  “  History  of  the  Con¬ 
federate  States  Navy,”  &c.,  chap, 
vii.,  pp.  128  to  140. 

73  The  officers  of  this  renowned 
regiment  were — Colonel,  Michael  Cor¬ 
coran  ;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Robert 
Nugent ;  Major,  James  Bagley ;  Ad¬ 
jutant,  John  M'Keon ;  Volunteer 
Aids,  C.  G.  Halpine  and  John  Sav¬ 
age;  Chaplain,  Rev.  Thomas  J. 
Mooney,  who  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
B.  O’Reilly,  S.J. ;  Engineers,  James 
B.  Kirker,  John  H.  M‘Cann,  and  L. 


D.  Homergue ;  Surgeon,  Robert 
Johnston ;  Assistants,  Drs.  James  L. 
Kieman,  J.  Paschal  Smith,  and  P. 
Nolan ;  Quartermaster,  Joseph  P. 
Tully  ;  Paymaster,  Matthew  Kehoe  ; 
Sergeant-Major,  Arthur  Tracey ; 
Colour-Sergeant,  —  Murphy. 

74  The  component  individuals  and 
numbers  were — Company  A,  Captain 
James  Hagerty ;  First-Lieutenant, 
Theodore  Kelly ;  Second-Lieutenants, 
Daniel  Strayne  and  Denis  F.  Sulli¬ 
van  ;  Orderly  Sergeant,  Bermingham, 
with  one  hundred  and  twenty  men. 
Company  B, — Captain  Thomas  Lynch  ; 
First-Lieutenant,  Thomas  Leddy ; 
Second-Lieutenant,  W.  H.  Giles ; 
Orderly  Sergeant  Cahill ;  with  one 
hundred  and  fourteen  men.  Company 
C — Captain  James  Kavanagh  ;  First- 
Lieutenant,  John  H.  Ryan ;  Second- 
Lieutenant,  J.  Rowan,  with  eightv- 
six  men.  Company  D — Captain 
Thomas  Clarke;  First  Lieutenant, 


374 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Eighth  and  Thirteenth  Brooklyn  Regiments.  When  the  fleet  reached 
Anapolis,  the  Sixty-ninth  were  placed  on  Arlington  Heights  in  Virginia, 
to  guard  the  line  of  railroad  from  Anapolis  to  Washington.  There  they 
engaged  in  throwing  up  a  fortification,  and  in  honour  of  their  colonel  it 
was  called  Fort  Corcoran,  the  first  of  such  defences  erected  during  the 
approaching  contest,  and  over  which  a  flag  of  the  United  States  was 
raised.75  Soon  they  were  joined  by  the  remainder  of  their  regiments, 
and  by  Captain  Thomas  Francis  Meagher,  who  had  raised  a  company  of 
Zouaves  in  New  York.76  From  the  New  England  and  other  States, 
numbers  of  Irish  and  other  recruits  were  daily  arriving  with  the  various 
regiments  that  had  been  mustered  into  service,  and  that  were  being 
hastily  concentrated  in  that  most  important  position. 

On  the  19th  of  April,  the  President  issued  another  proclamation  in 
which  he  gave  notice  that  the  ports  of  South  Carolina,  Georgia, 
Alabama,  Mississippi  and  Texas  were  placed  under  blockade.  The  im¬ 
portant  navy-yard  at  Norfolk  Virginia,  menaced  by  the  Confederate 


i 


Thomas  Fay ;  Second-Lieutenants, 
James  L.  Dungan,  and  Michael 
O’Boyle ;  Orderly  Sergeant,  M.  Ma¬ 
guire,  with  one  hundred  and  twenty 
men.  Company  E — Captain  P. 
Kelly ;  First-Lieutenant,  John  Bag- 
ley  ;  Orderly  Sergeant,  Andrew  Reed, 
with  one  hundred  men.  Company 
F — Captain  John  Breslin ;  First- 
Lieutenant,  P.  Duffy ;  Second-Lieu¬ 
tenants,  M.  P.  Bi-eslin,  — Dalton, 
with  one  hundred  men.  Company 
G— Captain  Felix  Duffy ;  First-Lieu¬ 
tenant,  Henry  J.  M‘Mahon ;  Orderly 
Sergeant,  Thomas  Phibbs,  with  one 
hundred  and  twenty  men.  Company 
H — Captain  James  Kelly ;  First- 
Lieutenant,  W.  Butler ;  Second- 
Lieutenants,  James  Lyons  and  James 
Gannon  ;  Orderly  Sergeant,  F.  Welp- 
ley',  with  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
six  men.  Company  J— Lieutenant 
John  Coonan,  commanding ;  Second- 
Lieutenant,  Thomas  M.  Canton,  with 
one  hundred  and  two  men. 

75  See  Captain  D.  P.  Conyngham’s 
most  interesting  and  valuable  book, 
“  The  Irish  Brigade  and  its  Cam¬ 
paigns,”  chap,  i.,  pp.  11  to  13.  Glas¬ 
gow  and  London  edition,  8vo. 

79  This  brilliant  Irish  patriot,  orator 
and  soldier  was  born  in  Watei'ford 
Ireland,  on  the  3rd  of  August  1823. 
He  was  educated  from  the  age 
of  nine,  at  Clongowes  Wood 
College  County  of  Kildare,  by  the 
Jesuits,  for  six  years,  when  he  was 
sent  to  Stonyhurst  College,  near 


Preston  in  England,  leaving  that 
institution  in  1843.  He  then  joined 
Daniel  O’Connell  in  his  demand  for 
a  Repeal  of  the  Union,  but  soon 
afterwards  he  became  allied  with  the 
Young  Ireland  Party,  whose  object 
was  to  obtain  Irish  independence  of 
the  English  Government  by  force  of 
arms.  On  the  failure  of  that  move¬ 
ment  in  October  he  was  captured, 
convicted  of  treason  and  condemned 
to  death,  which  sentence  was  after¬ 
wards  commuted  to  banishment  for 
life.  He  was  banished  to  Van  Die¬ 
men’s  Land,  but  in  1852  he  escaped 
to  the  United  States.  He  was  there 
admitted  to  the  bar,  but  at  the  be¬ 
ginning  of  the  Civil  War,  he  aband¬ 
oned  that  profession  to  engage  in  a 
military  career.  He  was  prominent 
in  all  the  early  battles  fought  in  the 
East,  but  after  the  battle  of  Chancel- 
lorville,  his  brigade  became  so  de¬ 
cimated  that  he  resigned  its  command. 
In  1864,  he  was  re-commissioned 
brigadier-general  of  volunteers.  In 
January  1865,  he  was  relieved  from 
duty  in  Tennessee,  and  ordered  for 
report  to  General  Sherman  in  Savan¬ 
nah  ;  however,  the  close  of  the  war 
prevented  his  performing  any  further 
military  service.  Afterwards,  he  be¬ 
came  Secretary  of  Montana  Territory, 
and  while  acting  Governor  there,  he 
fell  from  the  deck  of  a  steamboat 
into  the  Missouri  River,  near  Fort 
Benton,  where  he  was  drowned  ou 
the  1st  of  July,  1867. 


OPENING  OF  THE  REBELLION  IN  MISSOURI.  375 

forces,  was  dismantled  with  its  stores,  while  the  Federal  officers  sunk 
or  destroyed  several  vessels  to  prevent  their  capture.  On  the  3rd  of 
May,  President  Lincoln  again  issued  a  proclamation,  calling  out  for 
service  of  the  United  States,  during  three  years  or  during  the  continu¬ 
ance  of  the  war,  42,000  volunteers.77  He  recognised  the  fact,  likewise, 
that  the  Executive  had  been  too  weak  in  trained  and  organised 
defenders  for  an  emergency  such  as  the  present,  and  he  decreed  that 
the  regular  army  should  be  increased  by  23,000  soldiers,  while  the  navy 
should  be  reinforced  by  18,000  seamen.78 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


Opening  of  the  Rebellion  in  Missouri — The  Confederate  Constitution — Maryland 
— West  Virginia — General  Beauregard  placed  over  the  Confederate  Army  in 
Virginia — Provision  made  by  Congress  to  carry  on  the  War — The  Confederates 
establish  their  Seat  of  Government  at  Richmond — General  McDowell  com¬ 
manding  the  United  States  Troops  advances  to  meet  the  Confederates — Battle 
of  Bull  Run — Defeat  of  the  Federals — Reverses  of  the  Federals  in  Missouri — 
Measures  taken  by  Congress — Troubles  in  Kentucky — General  Thomas  West 
Sherman  obtains  a  Victory  over  the  Confederates  in  South  Carolina — General 
Scott,  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  United  States  Army,  resigns— Jefferson 
Davis  elected  President  over  the  South — Action  of  Napoleon  III.  and  of  Lord 
Palmerston — Seizure  of  Messrs.  Mason  and  Slidell — Preparations  for  War  in 
the  Northern  and  Southern  States. 


Without  any  regular  organization  of  forces,  the  ramifications  of  this 
conspiracy  were  most  extensive,  and  able  leaders  were  soon  found  to 
give  it  shape  and  direction.  In  the  early  part  of  1861,  popular  agita¬ 
tion  had  reached  a  high  degree  of  excitement,  and  even  in  some  of  the 
States  that  had  not  formally  seceded — especially  in  Missouri  and  Ken¬ 
tucky — great  efforts  had  been  made  by  partisans  and  sympathisers  to 
co-operate  with  the  Confederates.1  The  Governor  of  the  former  State 
Claiborne  F.  Jackson2  was  also  in  league  with  them.  The  political  ex¬ 
citement  had  become  intense  in  Missouri,  when  the  Catholic  Archbishop 
of  St.  Louis  Most  Rev.  Peter  Richard  Kenrick3  issued  a  pastoral  to 


77  See  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fletcher’s 
“  History  of  the  American  War  from 
1861  to  *1865,”  Vol.  i.,  chap.  iv. 

78  On  the  side  of  the  Confederates, 
with  whom  he  served,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Richard  Taylor  has  written 
“  Reminiscences  of  Secession  :  De¬ 
struction  and  Reconstruction,  Per¬ 
sonal  Experiences  of  the  late  War  in 
the  United  States.”  Published  by 
Blackwood  and  Sons,  Edinburgh, 
8vo. 

1  See  Lieutenant-Colonel  .  Fletcher’s 
“  History  of  the  American  War  from 


1861  to  1864,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  ii.,  p. 
24. 

2  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  iii.,  p. 
385. 

3  This  distinguished  prelate  was 
born  in  Dublin  Ireland,  17th  of 
August  1806.  He  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1833.  In  1841,  he  became 
co  adjutor  to  Bishop  Rosati  of  St. 
Louis,  and  on  his  death  succeeded, 
September  25th  1843.  In  1847,  his  See 
was  constitued  a  metropolitan  seat, 
and  he  received  the  title  of  Arch- 


376 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


his  flock,  on  the  4th  of  March  1861  ;  and  in  this  he  counselled  them  to 
beware  of  aggressive  individuals  or  bodies,  not  recognised  by  the  laws.4 
The  bold  and  decisive  action  of  Captain  Nathaniel  Lyon,  U.S.A ,  also 
saved  Missouri  from  joining  the  seceding  States.5  Hostile  bands  had 
collected  and  formed  a  camp  outside  St.  Louis,  with  a  design  of  seizing 
on  the  United  States  Arsenal  within  that  city ;  but  owing  to  his  zeal 
and  energy,  the  encampment  was  captured,  and  the  insurgents  were 
dispersed  on  the  10th  of  May.6  In  the  western  parts  of  Missouri,  the 
General  of  Militia  Sterling  Price7  raised  the  standard  of  rebellion,  and 
began  to  form  various  bodies  to  aid  his  designs.8  Then  Captain  Lyon 
moved  westward,  and  took  possession  of  Jefferson  City,  on  the  15th  of 
June.  The  Confederates  had  mustered  a  force  under  Colonel  John  S. 
Marmaduke.9  At  Boonville  on  the  17th  of  June,  the  insurgents  were 
defeated  by  Lyon  in  a  battle,  where  Colonel  Philip  Henry  Sheridan 
greatly  distinguished  himself,  and  first  gave  earnest  of  those  signal  ser¬ 
vices  he  afterwards  rendered  to  the  Union.10  After  that  defeat,  Go¬ 
vernor  Jackson  and  several  members  of  the  State  Legislature  fled 
hastily  to  Lexington ;  while  Sterling  Price  withdrew  to  the  south¬ 
western  parts  of  Missouri  to  gather  recruits,  and  these  were  brought 
chiefly  from  Arkansas.  Meantime,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Thomas 
William  Sweeney,11  about  2,500  men  were  sent  forward  from  the 
Arsenal  to  Rolla,  whence  Colonel  Franz  Sigel12  marched  with  about  1,500 
men  towards  Springfield,  and  he  reached  Carthage  on  the  4th  of  July. 
The  enemy,  to  the  number  of  4,000  or  5,000,  were  in  a  position  some 
miles  away ;  but,  resolving  to  attack  them  without  cavalry,  Sigel  was 


bishop.  See  ibid.,  pp.  519,  520.  He 
died  March  4th  1896. 

4  See  John  Gilmary  Shea’s  “History 
of  the  Catholic  Church  within  the 
Limits  of  the  United  States,”  Vol. 
iv.,  Book  x.,  chap,  i.,  p.  610. 

5  See  James  Peckham’s  “  Life  of 
General  Nathaniel  Lyon,”  pp.  147  to 
160,  New  York,  1866. 

6  See  “  The  Fight  for  Missouri,”  by 
Thomas  L.  Snead,  New  York,  1886. 

7  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
Biography,”  Vol.  v.,  pp.  118,  119. 

8  See  “  Histoire  de  la  Guerre  Civile 
en  Amerique,”  par  M.  le  Comte  de 
Paris,  Tome  i.,  Liv.  ii.,  chap,  iv., 

pp.  280,  281. 

9  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  iv.,  pp. 
211,  212. 

10  His  parents  John  and  Mary 

Sheridan  came  from  Cavan  County 
Ireland  in  1830,  and  settled  in  Albany 
N.  Y.,  where  he  was  born  on  the 
6th  of  March  1831.  He  died  in 

Nonquitt  Mass.  August  5th  1888. 


See  “  Personal  Memoirs  of  P.  H. 
Sheridan,  General  U.  S.  Army,”  Vol. 
i.,  chap,  i.,  pp.  1,  2,  and  chap,  ix., 
pp.  144  to  166.  This  most  interesting 
Autobiography  appeared  in  London 
1888,  in  two  volumes,  8vo.  Chatto 
and  Windus.  It  is  written  in  a 
clear  style  and  modest  spirit ;  and 
it  is  the  best  authority  for  the  many 
battles  in  which  the  author  was  per¬ 
sonally  engaged. 

1 1  He  was  born  in  Cork  Ireland, 
and  he  had  already  served  with  dis¬ 
tinction  in  the  Mexican  War.  He 
fought  bravely  during  the  Confederate 
War,  and  he  was  appointed  Brigadier- 
General  of  Volunteers  on  the  25th  of 
May  1861.  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclo¬ 
paedia  of  American  Biography,”  Vol. 
vi.,  pp.  6,  7. 

12  This  brave  soldier  was  a  native 
of  Sinshein  Baden,  where  he  was  born 
November  8th  1824.  He  served  in 
various  military  capacities  in  Europe, 
but  he  became  more  particularly  dis¬ 
tinguished  durine  the  after  course  of 
this  war.  .  See  ibid.,  Vol.  v.,  p.  524. 


Winfield  Scott, 

Ueulenanr-General  oT  US  Arm/: 


W/l liam  Henr y  Seward, 
Secretory  a F Stole. 


Michael  Corcoran, 

Brigadier-Genera!  oFU.  S.Army. 


Benjamin  Franklin  Butler, 

Major-General  oT  U.  S.Army. 


TIIE  CONFEDERATE  CONSTITUTION. 


377 


obliged  after  a  sharp  conflict  to  retreat  for  Carthage.  On  the  6th  of 
July  the  Federals  under  Sigel,  and  the  Confederates  under  Price, 
fought  an  indecisive  battle,  in  which  the  former  lost  43  men  and  the 
latter  160.  Meantime,  gathering  regulai’s  and  volunteers  as  he 
advanced,  Lyon  arrived  at  Springfield  to  the  support  of  his  lieutenant 
on  the  13th  of  July,  while  the  Confederates  retired  again  to  the  south¬ 
western  portions  of  the  State.  Moreover,  Major  General  Fremont  was 
placed  as  chief  over  the  armies  of  the  West,  where  he  had  the  difficult 
task  of  organization  and  equipment  to  undertake.  The  position  of 
Lyon,  having  only  between  7,000  to  8,000  troops,  was  now  found  to  be 
dangerous,  as  bands  of  Confederates  began  to  swarm  throughout  all 
parts  of  Missouri ;  and  soon  Price  menaced  Springfield  at  the  head  of 
more  than  12,000  men,  half  of  them  being  cavalry,  with  fifteen  pieces 
of  cannon.13 

When  secession  had  been  decreed,  a  provisional  Congress  of  one 
House — each  Confederated  State  having  one  vote — was  appointed ; 
while  the  mass  of  voters  held  no  control  whatever  over  the  action  of 
those  State  Conventions,  which  had  been  so  rashly  called  into  existence. 
A  permanent  Constitution  having  been  adopted  by  the  Provisional 
Congress  March  11th  1861, 14  it  was  ratified  by  the  State  Conventions 
or  Legislatures  before  April  29th.  It  then  recognised  a  Senate15  and 
a  House  of  Representatives.16  Even  in  its  forms,  the  Southern 
Constitution  much  resembled  that  of  the  United  States,  but  with  the 
important  changes,  that  State  sovereignty  was  to  be  a  cardinal  principle ; 
it  lengthened  the  term  of  President  and  Vice-President  to  six  years  ; 
the  re-election  of  the  former  was  prohibited ;  it  gave  the  cabinet  seats 
without  votes  in  Congress ;  it  allowed  the  President  to  veto  single 
sections  in  appropriation  bills ;  it  forbade  Congress  to  vote  money  for 
internal  improvements,  to  pass  protective  tariffs  or  to  grant  bounties ; 
it  forbade  removals  from  office,  except  for  dishonesty,  incapacity, 
inefficiency,  misconduct  or  neglect  of  duty,  and  the  reasons  to  be  reported 
to  the  Senate ;  while  it  directed  Congress  to  recognise  and  protect  in 
the  Territories  “  the  institution  of  negro  slavery  as  it  now  exists  in  the 

13  For  the  general  events  of  the 
several  campaigns,  one  of  the  most 
interesting  of  the  works  afterwards 
published  is  Benson  John  Bossing’s 
“Pictorial  History  of  the  Civil  War 
in  the  United  States  of  America,” 
illustrated,  in  three  volumes.  Phila¬ 
delphia  and  Hartford,  1866  to  1869, 
imp.  8 vo. 

14  See  Jefferson  Davis’  “  Rise  and 
fall  of  the  Confederate  Government,” 

Vol.  i.,  Part  iii.,  chap,  x.,  pp.  258 
to  264,  also  Appendix  K.,  640  to 
675. 

15  The  Senate  of  thirteen  seceded 
States  comprised  26,  being  two  for 
each  State. 


16  A  full  House  consisted  of  106 
members  as  follows,  viz.,  for  Ala¬ 
bama,  9 ;  for  Arkansas,  4 ;  for 
Florida,  2 ;  for  Georgia,  10 ;  for  Ken¬ 
tucky,  12  ;  for  Louisiana,  6  ;  for  Mis¬ 
sissippi,  7 ;  for  Missouri,  7 ;  for 
North  Carolina,  10;  for  South  Caro¬ 
lina,  6  ;  for  Tennessee,  11 ;  for  Texas, 
6 ;  and  for  Virginia,  16.  The  dele¬ 
gations  from  Kentucky  and  Missouri 
were  fictitious,  and  only  submitted  as 
a  basis  for  ulterior  claims.  They  dis¬ 
appeared  however  in  1864.  See  “  A 
Rebel  War  Clerk’s  Diary  at  the  Con¬ 
federate  States  Capital,  1861-1865,” 
by  John  B.  Jones.  In  two  volumes, 
Philadelphia,  1866,  8vo. 


378 


IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Confederate  States.”  The  first  presidential  and  congressional  election 
under  such  Constitution  took  place,  November  6th,  1861  ;  while  Jefferson 
Davis  and  Alexander  Hamilton  Stephens17  were  chosen  for  the  respec¬ 
tive  offices  of  President  and  Vice-President  afterwards  held  by  them.18 

During  the  party  excitement  which  led  to  that  unhappy  rebellion  in 
Maryland,  a  strong  secessionist  feeling  had  been  aroused  ;  and  especially 
at  Baltimore.  When  troops  began  to  arrive  there  from  the  New  England 
States  in  April,  riots  broke  out  which  were  calculated  to  obstruct  their 
advance.19  Conciliatory  measures  were  adopted,  however,  to  allay  these 
alarming  manifestations  on  the  part  of  the  citizens ;  when  other  rein¬ 
forcements  coming  from  the  north  were  directed  upon  Washington,  by 
a  more  circuitous  route.  Some  stern  repressive  measures  were  necessary, 
moreover,  to  procure  submission ;  but  afterwards  no  serious  difficulties 
were  experienced  by  the  Government,  to  keep  that  State  within  the 
Union.20 

Although  the  people  living  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State  of  Virginia 
had  been  drawn  into  the  Rebellion,  as  sympathisers  generally  with  the 
slave-holding  interests,  and  as  being  mostly  descendants  from  old  families 
there  long  settled ;  yet,  beyond  the  Blue  Ridge  Mountains  to  the  west, 
the  inhabitants  were  of  a  more  mixed  composition,  and  for  the  most 
part  they  pronounced  against  secession.21  However,  a  great  number 
favoured  the  Southern  cause,  and  this  led  to  some  internal  disorder. 
AY  hen  Virginia  had  adopted  the  secessionist  ordinance  on  the  17tli  of 
April,  the  western  portion  of  that  State  beyond  the  Allegany  Mountains 
resolved  by  an  almost  unanimous  protest  adhesion  to  the  United  States. 
In  May  a  convention  of  delegates  from  twenty-five  counties  met  at 
Wheeling.  Soon  the  leaders  of  this  movement  were  in  communication 
with  President  Lincoln  at  AVashington,  and  with  Major-General 
McClellan22  at  Cincinnati  Ohio.  To  suppress  such  manifestations, 


17  A.  H.  Stephens  wrote  a  “  His¬ 
tory  of  the  War  between  the  States  : 
tracing  its  Origin,  Causes  and  Re¬ 
sults  ;  ”  while  it  especially  refers  to 
the  preliminary  constitutional  ques¬ 
tions  contested.  It  appeared  in 
Philadelphia,  1868,  8vo.  Also,  a 
“Constitutional  View  of  the  late  War 
between  the  States,”  two  vols.,  8vo. 

18  They  were  inaugurated,  February 
22nd  1862,  and  appointed  to  serve 
until  1868.  See  the  “  Encyclopaedia 
Americana,”  Y  ol.  ii. ,  Art  Confederate 
States,  pp.  349  to  353. 

19  See  General  B.  F.  Butler’s  “  Auto¬ 
biography  and  Personal  Reminiscen¬ 
ces,”  chap,  iv.,  pp.  173  to  216. 

20  From  the  year  1861  to  1868, 
“  The  Rebellion  Record,”  edited  by 
Frank  Moore  appeared  at  New  York, 
in  twelve  8vo,  volumes.  This,  and 


the  Reports  on  the  Conduct  of  the 
War,  printed  by  Congress,  furnish 
materials  for  consultation,  on  nearly 
all  details  of  this  great  struggle  be¬ 
tween  the  Northern  and  the  Southern 
States.  However,  it  must  be  ob¬ 
served,  those  accounts  generally  pre¬ 
sent  each  particular  statement  with 
a  bias  in  favour  of  the  Federals. 

21  For  a  correct  appreciation  of  the 
state  of  parties  before  and  about  this 
period,  the  reader  should  refer  to 
Edward  MacPherson’s  “  Political  His¬ 
tory  of  the  United  States  of  America 
during  the  great  Rebellion.”  Wash¬ 
ington,  1865,  8vo. 

22  He  was  born  in  Philadelphia 
Pa.,  December  3rd  1826,  and  embrac¬ 
ing  a  military  career ;  he  was  dis¬ 
tinguished  as  an  engineer,  with  Gene¬ 
rals  Robert  E.  Lee  and  Beauregard, 


provision  made  dy  congress  to  carry  on  the  war.  379 


Colonel  G.  A.  Porterfield  had  been  sent  with  a  detachment  from  Rich¬ 
mond  to  Philippi,  a  village  situated  in  a  mountain  valley.  A  provisional 
government  was  soon  formed  at  Wheeling,  and  an  organization  was 
effected,  likewise,  to  prevent  West  Virginia  from  falling  under  the 
Confederates’  power.23 

Meanwhile,  Colonel  Benjamin  Franklin  Kelly24  took  active  measures 
to  raise  volunteers,  and  a  regiment  was  formed  of  which  lie  held 
command.  At  this  time,  Major-General  McClellan  had  divisional 
command  of  Cincinnati  and  the  west,  at  the  head  of  13,000  men.  He 
directed  two  Ohio  regiments  to  enter  Western  Virginia  on  the  26th  of 
May,  in  order  to  support  the  Union  cause.25  On  the  morning  of  June 
3rd,  Colonel  Kelly  with  the  troops  he  had  collected  marched  against 
Colonel  G.  A.  Porterfield,  who  was  attacked  with  vigour,  and  driven 
from  his  position  at  Philippi.20 

Meantime,  the  Confederates  sent  a  force  under  Brigadier-General 
Henry  A.  Wise27  ex-Governor  of  Virginia  to  the  Kanawha  Valley,  in 
order  to  repair  the  disaster  at  Philippi,  while  General  Robert  S. 
Garnett 28  was  to  prevent  succour  arriving  from  the  direction  of 
Washington.  With  a  greatly  superior  army,  General  McClellan  entered 
West  Virginia,  and  with  Brigadiers  William  Starke  Rosecrans 29  and 
Thomas  A.  Morris,30  serving  under  his  command,  forced  the  enemy  to 
retreat  in  disorder  during  the  month  of  J uly.31  In  the  pursuit,  General 
Garnett  was  killed,  and  during  the  remainder  of  that  year,  the  Con¬ 
federates  were  gradually  manoeuvred  beyond  the  Allegany  Mountains 
nor  could  they  make  any  permanent  impression  on  West  Virginia.32 

At  a  place  called  Big  Bethel,  about  fifteen  miles  from  Fortress 


in  the  Mexican  war.  As  captain, 
he  retired  from  the  army  in  1857 ; 
but  he  was  commissioned  as  major- 
general  of  the  Ohio  Militia  Volun¬ 
teers  April  23rd  1861.  See  the  “  En- 
cyclopa'dia  Americana,”  Vol.  iii.,  pp. 
649,  650. 

23  See  Dr.  John  William  Drapers 
“  History  of  the  American  Civil 
War,”  Vol.  ii. ,  sect,  ix.,  chap,  xlviii., 
pp.  241  to  247. 

24  Of  Irish  descent,  and  born  in 
New  Hampton  N.  H.,  April  10th 
1867,  he  served  with  distinction  dur¬ 
ing  this  war.  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclo¬ 
paedia  of  American  Biography,”  Vol. 
iii.,  p.  504. 

25  Brigadier-General  Robert  Emmet 
Clary,  born  in  1805  of  Irish  parents 
in  Ashfield  Mass.,  served  as  chief 
quartermaster  in  the  department  of 
West  Virginia  and  in  various  other 
useful  capacities  to  the  close  of  the 
war. 

26  The  Scene  of  the  Campaign  in 
Western  Virginia  is  rhown  on  a  map 


attached  to  Lieut. -Colonel  Fletcher’s 
“  History  of  the  American  War  from 
1861  to  1865,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  iv.,  p. 
92. 

27  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biographv,”  Vol.  vi.,  pp. 
579,  580. 

28  See  ibid.  Vol.  ii.,  p.  607. 

29  He  was  born  in  Kingston  Ohio, 
Sept.  6th  1819,  and  he  graduated  at 
the  U.  S.  Military  Academy  in  1842 
He  served  with  distinction  from  the 
beginning  to  the  close  of  the  war. 
See  “  Encyclopaedia  Americana.”  Vol. 
iv.  p.  406. 

30  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vo.  iv.,  p 
419. 

31  See  M.  le  Comte  de  Paris,  “His 
toire  de  la  Guerre  Civile  en  Am6ri- 
que,”  Tome  i.,  Liv.  ii.,  chap.  ii.  pp. 
401  to  408. 

32  See  “  Abraham  Lincoln,  a  His¬ 
tory,”  Vol.  iv.,  chap,  xix.,  pp.  327 
to  ‘340. 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


380 


Monroe,  a  considerable  number  of  Confederates  had  been  posted,  under 
the  command  of  Colonel  Daniel  Harvey  Hill,33  in  a  strong  position  ; 
while  at  Yorktown  Va.,  Colonel  John  B.  Magruder34  had  concentrated 
some  forces.  An  expedition  was  planned,  by  General  Benjamin 
Franklin  Butler,35  to  capture  that  post ;  but,  owing  to  mismanagement, 
the  attack  resulted  in  a  defeat  for  the  Federals  on  the  9th  of  June.36 

Meanwhile  General  Pierre  Gustave  T.  Beauregard 37  had  been 
removed  from  Charleston  at  the  beginning  of  June,  to  take  command 
of  the  Confederate  Army  in  Virginia.  His  head-quarters  were 
established  at  Manassas  Junction,  about  thirty  miles  south-west  from 
the  city  of  Washington.  The  United  States  Congress  having  assembled, 
in  his  message  on  the  5th  of  July  President  Lincoln  required  to  be 
provided  with  400,000  men,  and  with  400,000,000  of  dollars,  to  carry 
on  the  war.  Duly  estimating  the  necessity  for  prompt  and  vigorous 
action,  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  passed  a  bill,  which 
even  authorised  the  rising  of  an  army,  amounting  to  500,000  men  and  to 
a  loan  of  500,000,000  dollars.  At  that  time,  General  Scott  had  com¬ 
mand  in  Chief  over  the  United  States  land  forces;  and  he  began  to 
form  dispositions  for  an  advance.38  The  Confederate  government 
resolved  to  fix  their  place  for  residence ;  and,  on  the  20th  of  that  month, 
they  assembled  at  Richmond  in  Virginia.39  This  was  deemed  to  be  a 
position  the  most  suitable,  for  various  political  and  strategic  reasons.40 

At  this  time,  the  head-quarters  of  the  Federal  army  commanded  by 
General  Irvin  McDowell41  were  at  Centreville,  about  twenty  miles 
south-west  from  Washington,  and  about  eight  miles  north-east  from  the 
Confederate  troops,  who  were  concentrated  on  a  plateau,  and  in  an 
excellent  position  at  Manassas  railway  junction.42  Without  a  good 
knowledge  of  the  forces  opposed  to  him,  McDowell  resolved  to  advance. 
Meantime,  the  Confederates  were  hurrying  up  troops ;  and  on  both 
sides,  it  had  been  intended  to  commence  the  attack.  The  Union  forces 


33  See  the  “Encyclopaedia  Ameri¬ 
cana,”  Vol.  iii.,  p.  327.  Also  Dr. 
John  William  Draper’s  “  History  of 
the  American  Civil  War,”  Vol.  ii., 
sect,  ix.,  chap,  xlviii.,  pp.  248  to 
253. 

34  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  oi 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  iv.,  p. 
175. 

35  Born  in  Deerfield  N.  H.,  Novem¬ 
ber  5th  1818,  and  he  served  with 
great  distinction  during  the  Confed¬ 
erate  War.  See  ibid.,  Vol.  i.,  pp. 
477,  478. 

36  See  Lieut.-Colonel  Fletcher’s 
“  History  of  the  American  War  from 
1861  to  1865,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  iv., 
pp.  85  to  87. 

37  See  Colonel  Alfred  Roman’s 
“  Military  Operations  of  General 
Beauregard  in  the  War  between  the 


States,  1861-65,”  etc.,  Vol.  i.,  chap, 
vi.,  pp.  65  to  75.  Two  vols.  New 
York  1884,  8vo. 

38  See  “  Abraham  Lincoln,  a  His¬ 
tory,”  Vol.  iv.,  chap,  xviii.,  pp.  308 
to  326. 

39  See  George  H.  Townsend’s  “  Ma¬ 
nual  of  Dates,”  p.  863.  London : 
1862,  8vo. 

40  See  Dr.  John  William  Draper’s 
“  History  of  the  American  Civil 
War,”  Vol.  ii.,  sect,  vii.,  chap,  xl., 
pp.  108  to  114. 

41  See  an  account  of  him,  in  Apple¬ 
ton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Bio¬ 
graphy,”  Vol.  iv.,  pp.  109  to  111. 

42  Their  relative  positions  are  well 
set  out  in  an  Outline  Map  of  the 
first  Battle  fought  at  Bull  Run,  in 
“Abraham  Lincoln,  .a  History,”  Vol. 
iv.,  chap,  xx.,  p.  350. 


Centerville 


ff  edhtH 
r  Ford 


Kobmson 

Henry 
&  Lewis 


Union  Mi//i 

v  ford 


rlctnasscLs 
c func/tion 


Battle-Field  of  Bull’3  Run, 


Baltimore  and  Washington  at  Opening  of  the  War, 


* 


<r 


/ 


BATTLE  OP  BULL  RUN. 


381 


anticipated  their  opponents,  who  were  then  thrown  on  the  defensive. 
On  Sunday  morniug  the  21st  of  July,  the  first  battle  of  great 
importance  between  the  two  main  armies  was  commenced  by  the 
Federals  at  about  six  o’clock,  in  the  vicinity  of  a  stream  called  Bull 
Run.  However,  Brigadier-General  Joseph  Eggleston  Johnston  43  with 
9,000  troops  arrived  in  time  to  reinforce  the  Confederates.  During 
that  forenoon,  the  attacking  army  appeared  to  have  the  advantage. 
They  pushed  on  bravely,  and  fought  with  great  determination. 
About  three  o’clock  in  the  afternoon,  General  Beauregard 44  un¬ 
masked  certain  concealed  batteries,  and  Brigadier-General  Thomas 
Jonathan  Jackson  45  having  formed  his  brigade  in  a  strong  position 
was  able  to  withstand  all  M‘ Dowell’s  attempts  to  dislodge  him. 
Seven  fresh  regiments  arrived  about  four  o’clock,  and  these  were 
thrown  against  the  extreme  right,  and  partly  in  the  rear  of 
the  Union  lines..  The  Federal  troops  then  began  to  break  and  run, 
while  the  retreat  soon  became  a  rout,  and  finally  a  panic.46  Then  pur¬ 
suit  was  continued  eastwards  towards  Centreville,  and  northwards 
towards  Leesburg.  The  flying  army  lost  nearly  all  their  artillery,  a 
large  portion  of  their  small  arms,  with  most  of  their  ammunition, 
baggage  and  stores.  Colonel  Michael  Corcoran,47  commanding  the 
G9th  regiment  of  New  York  Militia,  fought  with  surpassiug  bravery  in 
this  battle,  where  he  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner.48  On  the 


43  This  able  man,  born  in  Virginia 
1807,  embraced  a  military  career,  and 
served  with  great  distinction  in 
Florida  and  Mexico.  Long  after  the 
Confederate  struggle  ceased,  he  pub¬ 
lished  a  “  Narrative  of  Military 
Operations  directed  during  the  late 
War  between  the  States,”  New  York, 
1874,  8vo. 

44  Born  near  New  Orleans  La., 
May  28th  1818.  See  Appleton’s 
“Cyclopaedia  of  American  Biography,” 
Vol.  i.,  p.  210. 

45  He  was  of  Irish  descent,  and  had 
served  with  great  bravery  in  the 
Mexican  War.  On  this  field  he 
checked  the  Confederate  retreat,  and 
for  his  firmness  obtained  the  sobriquet 
of  “  Stonewall,”  by  which  he  was 
afterwards  familiarly  known.  His 
Life  written  by  Robert  L.  Dabney 
was  published  at  New  York,  1863, 
and  by  John  Eston  Cooke  in  1866. 
Later  still,  his  biography  has  been 
written  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  G.  F. 
R.  Henderson,  and  published  in  Lon¬ 
don,  in  two  volumes,  8vo.,  1898. 

46  See  “  Histoire  de  la  Guerre  Civile 
en  Amerique,”  par  M.  le  Comte  de 
Paris,  Tome  Premier,  Liv.  iii. ,  chap, 
ii. ,  pp.  394  to  454.  Also,  Charies 


C.  Coffin’s  “  Four  Years  of  Fighting : 
a  Volume  of  Personal  Observations 
with  the  Army  and  Navy  from  the 
first  Battle  of  Bull  Run  to  the  Fall 
of  Richmond,”  Boston,  1866,  8vo. 

47  He  was  born  in  Carrowkeel, 
County  of  Sligo  Ireland,  September 
21st  1827.  In  1847  he  emigrated  to 
(the  United  States  and  settled  in 
New  York  City. 

48  He  was  sent  to  the  South,  and 
kept  in  close  confinement,  until  he 
was  released  by  exchange  on  the  15th 
of  August  1862.  He  was  commis¬ 
sioned  Brigadier-General,  dating  from 
July  21st  1861.  Afterwards,  he  or¬ 
ganized  the  Corcoran  Legion,  which 
took  part  in  the  battles  of  Nanse- 
mond  River  and  Suffolk,  during  April 
1863.  He  held  the  advance  of  the 
enemy  on  Norfolk  in  check.  That 
legion  was  attached  to  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  While  riding  in  company 
with  General  Thomas  Francis  Meagher 
his  horse  fell  near  Fairfax  Court¬ 
house  Virginia,  and  he  died  on  the 
22nd  of  December  1863.  His  portrait 
and  a  memoir  are  to  be  found,  in 
Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of  American 
Biography,”  edited  by  James  Grant 
Wilson  and  John  Fiske,  Vol.  i,  p,  737, 


382  IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Federal  side,  19  oflicers  and  462  men  were  killed,  with  64  officers  and 
947  men  wounded.49  The  loss  of  the  Confederates  was  considerably 
less;  but,  this  included  six  superior  officers,  besides  the  men  killed. 
The  Confederate  army  was  stated  to  have  numbered  15,000  men,  and 
the  Federal  army  1S,000.50  This  opening  battle  of  the  campaign  gave 
the  former  very  great  prestige,  and  the  latter  most  serious  discourage¬ 
ment.51 

In  July  a  brave  Irish-American  Colonel  James  A.  Mulligan52 — who 
had  raised  the  23rd  Illinois  Regiment  nearly  1,200  strong  in 
Chicago — left  Jefferson  city  to  operate  against  the  rebels  in  the  State 
of  Missouri.  This  regiment  was  known  as  the  Western  Irish  Brigade. 
On  the  1st  of  August,  Brigadier-General  Lyon  left  Springfield,  and 
advanced  to  meet  the  combined  forces  of  Price,  Benjamin  MacCulloch,53 
Pearce  and  James  Henry  MacBride;54  but,  after  routing  their 
advanced  guard,  he  was  obliged  to  retreat  before  their  greatly  superior 
numbers.  While  the  Confederates  arrived  at  Wilson’s  Creek  on  the 
9th,  with  great  heroism  but  under-estimating  their  force,  General  Lyon 
thought  to  surprise  them,  by  detaching  Siegel  towards  their  rear  during 
the  night.  Although  in  the  first  instance  Lyon  threw  the  enemy  into 
confusion,  his  plan  miscarried  ;  and  the  Confederates  having  rallied  suc¬ 
cessively  attacked  Siegel — abandoned  by  a  great  number  of  his  men — - 
and  then  fell  upon  Lyon’s  forces  in  their  front.  For  a  long  time  the  un¬ 
equal  fight  continued.  On  the  1  ltli  August,  Brigadier-General  Lyon  with 
5,000  men  had  thus  attacked  12,000  Confederates  at  Wilson’s  Creek.55 
There  he  was  killed,56  but  his  forces  retreated  in  good  order  to 
Springfield. 

49  According  to  the  official  returns. 

See  Dr.  John  William  Draper’s  “  His¬ 
tory  of  the  American  Civil  War,” 

Vol.  ii.,  sect,  vii.,  chap,  xl.,  pp. 

115  to  126. 

50  See  Joseph  Irving’s  “  Annals  of 
our  Time,”  p.  451. 

51  See  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fletcher's 
“  History  of  the  American  War  from 
1861  to  1865,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  v.,  pp. 

107  to  140. 

52  Born  in  Utica  N.  Y.,  June  25th 
1830,  of  Irish  parents,  he  inherited 
along  with  a  stalwart,  physical  con¬ 
stitution  and  cast  in  a  heroic  mould,  an 
intense  love  of  Ireland,  and  a  true 
devotion  to  the  Catholic  faith.  In 
1836  his  parents  removed  to  Chicago, 
he  became  a  lawyer,  and  he  edited 
the  Western  Tablet.  He  fought 
bravely  during  the  war.  At  length 
he  fell  mortally  wounded  in 
the  battle  at  Kernstown  Va., 

July  24th  1864.  He  died  two 
days  after,  and  his  remains  were 
brought  to  Chicago  where  they  were 


interred  in  Calvary  Cemetery.  The 
State  and  citizens  of  Illinois  erected 
a  magnificent  monument,  surmounted 
by  a  Celtic  Cross,  to  his  memory. 
This  was  unveiled  with  solemn  cere¬ 
monies  May  30th  1885 ;  the  Hon. 
William  J.  Onahan,  LL.D.,  deliver¬ 
ing  an  eloquent  and  appropriate 
panegyric  on  the  occasion. 

53  Born  in  Rutherford  Co.  Term., 
November  11th  1811.  See  Samu-1 
Reid’s  “  Scouting  Expeditions  of 
McCulloch’s  Rangers,”  Philadelphia, 
1850,  8vo. 

54  Born  in  Kentucky  about  181’5. 
See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of  Amer¬ 
ican  Biography,”  Vol.  iv.,  p.  74. 

55  See  R.  J.  Holcombe’s  “  Account 
of  the  Battle  of  Wilson’s  Creek,  '  and 
Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of  American 
Biography,”  Vol.  iv.,  pp.  67,  68. 

56  For  the  number  of  troops  en¬ 
gaged,  this  was  a  most  obstinate  and 
sanguinary  battle :  the  Federals  had 
208  killed  and  701  wounded :  the 
Confederates  lost  411  killed  and  1,317 


REVERSES  OF  THE  FEDERALS  IN  MISSOURI. 


383 


Meanwhile,  Colonel  Mulligan  had  another  task  assigned  to  him. 
His  directions  were  to  occupy  and  defend  Lexington  with  the  force 
under  his  command.  There  he  arrived  on  the  9th  of  September,  and 
lie  commenced  throwing  up  some  earthworks  ;  but  soon,  General  Sterling 
Price  had  an  army  of  22,000  or  23,000  men  ready  to  invest  it.  No 
reinforcements  arrived  for  Mulligan,  and  after  a  most  heroic  resistance, 
he  was  obliged  to  surrender  on  the  20th  of  that  month.  With  2,800 
men,  under  great  difficulties  and  for  nine  days,  he  held  the  town  of 
Lexington  against  an  overwhelming  force  of  the  enemy  under  the 
command  of  Price.57 

During  this  year,  also,  a  revolt  of  the  Mormons  was  threatened 
in  Utah,  when  Colonel  Patrick  Edward  Connor58  raised  a  Volunteer 
regiment  of  Californians,  and  marched  there  to  check  that  move¬ 
ment.  The  Indians  in  the  distant  western  territories  were  addicted 
to  plunder  the  whites,  and  their  bands  were  organized  for  that  purpose.59 
Against  these,  likewise,  he  was  obliged  to  operate,  although  that  ser¬ 
vice  was  particularly  harassing  and  dangerous.60 

To  provide  for  the  construction  of  iron-clad  ships  and  floating 
batteries,  a  bill  was  passed  by  the  Federal  Congress  while  President 
Lincoln  issued  a  proclamation,  prohibiting  all  *  commercial  intercourse 
between  the  United  States  and  the  seceded.  States.  It  declared,  that 
property  seized  in  the  possession  of  Confederates  should  be  confiscated, 
as  likewise  all  ships,  under  similar  circumstances,  captured  on  the  high 
seas.  Soon,  owing  to  the  energy  and  capacity  of  Gideon  Welles  Secre¬ 
tary  of  the  Navy,  war-vessels  were  built  or  purchased  and  hastily 
equipped  for  active  service.  Extemporized  cruisers  were  fitted  up 
from  the  merchant  service,  and  sent  on  duty  to  the  various  blockade 
stations.  61 

The  battle  of  Bull  Run  was  not  followed  up  by  General  Beauregard, 
but  he  occupied  the  ground  won  without  further  molestation  for  nine 
months  succeeding.  Meantime,  General  MacDowell  was  deposed  from 
the  chief  command  of  the  Federal  troops.  On  the  25th  of  J  uly,  Major 


wounded.  See  M.  le  Comte  de  Paris, 
“  Histoire  de  la  Guerre  Civile  en 
Amerique,”  Tome  ii.,  Liv.  i.,  chap. 

1.,  pp.  11  to  40. 

57  See  “Abraham  Lincoln,  a  His¬ 
tory,”  Vol.  iv.,  chap,  xxiv.,  pp.  426 
to  428. 

58  He  was  born  in  the  south  of  Ire¬ 
land  March  17th  1820,  and  he  emi¬ 
grated  to  New  York  when  a  boy.  At 
the  age  of  nineteen,  he  served  in  the 
regular  army  during  the  Florida  war, 
and  afterwards  as  captain  of  Texas 
Volunteers,  he  fought  in  the  chief 
Mexican  battles,  under  Albert  Sydney 
Johnston.  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclo¬ 
paedia  of  American  Biography,”  Vol, 

1.,  pp.  708,  709. 


59  On  the  29th  of  January  1863  Con¬ 
nor  destroyed  over  300  warriors  in  their 
fortified  camp  at  Bear  Creek  Wash¬ 
ington  Territory.  Soon  afterwards 
he  was  commissioned  as  Brigadier- 
General,  and  appointed  to  command 
in  the  Utah  district.  There  he  effec¬ 
tually  established  the  authority  of  the 
government. 

60  At  the  closing  of  the  civil  war  in 
1864,  he  was  brevetted  as  Major- 
General,  and  afterwards  he  served 
against  the  Sioux  and  Arapahoes 
Indians,  who  were  troublesome  oo 
the  great  w'estern  routes. 

61  See  “  Abraham  Lincoln,  a  His¬ 
tory,”  Vol.  v.,  chap,  i.,  pp.  1  to  12. 


384  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


General  George  B.  McClellan  commenced  the  organization  and  discip¬ 
line  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Potomac,  he  having  been  appointed  to 
command  the  Department  of  Washington  and  north-eastern  Virginia.  62 
The  task  he  undertook  was  a  difficult  one,  but  it  was  accomplished  with 
great  method  and  ability.63  On  the  31st  of  August,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Silas  Casey64  was  appointed  Brigadier-Genet  al  of  Volunteers. 
To  him  was  assigned  the  task  of  organizing  and  of  disciplining  these 
newly  enlisted  men  in  and  near  the  capital,  which  was  strengthened 
and  secured  by  lines  of  defensive  works.65  On  the  same  day 
the  Confederate  Congress  commissioned  five  superior  generals,  66  and 
and  in  the  following  order — viz.  :  Samuel  Cooper,67  Albert  Sydney 
Johnston,68  Robert  Edward  Lee,69  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  and  Pierre 
G.  T.  Beauregard. 

Like  many  of  the  Slave  States,  Kentucky  was  divided  in  sentiment 
on  the  cause  to  be  espoused,  when  the  rebellion  broke  out.  State 
Guards,  commanded  by  General  Simon  B.  Buckner,70  with  the  Gover¬ 
nor  Beriah  Magoffin,71  favoured  the  Confederates  ;  while  Home  Guards, 
favoured  by  a  majority  of  the  State  Legislature,  declared  for  the 
Union.  The  Confederate  troops  from  Tennessee,  under  General  Felix 
K.  Zollicoffer,72  were  about  to  invade  the  State,  when  over  40,000  men 
were  ordered  to  be  called  out  by  the  Legislature.  The  Protestant 


62  This  general  had  previously- 
figured  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  he 
had  been  eminently  successful  in  sav¬ 
ing  West  Virginia  from  falling  into 
the  hands  of  the  Confederates  during 
that  summer.  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclo¬ 
paedia  of  American  Biography,”  Vol. 
iv.,  pp.  79  to  84. 

63  See  “  Histoire  de  la  Guerre  Civile 
en  Amerique,”  par  M.  le  Comte  de 
Paris,  Tome  Premier,  Liv.  iii.,  chap, 
iii. ,  pp.  465  to  470. 

64  He  was  of  Irish  lineage  and  born 
at  East  Greenwich  R.I.,  in  1807.  He 
had  formerly  distinguished  himself  in 
the  Mexican  battles  of  1847.  Sub¬ 
sequently  he  commanded  a  division  in 
General  Keyes’  corps  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  and  having  been 
greatly  distinguished  at  the  battle  of 
Fair  Oaks,  31st  May  1862,  he  was 
brevetted  Brigadier-General  of  the 
United  States  Army  and  Major-Gene¬ 
ral  of  Volunteers.  He  wrote  some 
prized  military  treatises.  See  Apple- 
ron’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Bio¬ 
graphy,”  Vol.  i.,  pp.  550,  551. 

65  For  the  military  organisation 
effected,  two  published  works  are  full 
of  useful  information,  “  The  Volun¬ 
teer  Quarter-Master,”  and  Brackett’s 
“  History  of  the  United  States  Cavalry.” 


66  For  an  account  of  these,  and 
written  from  a  Confederate  point  of 
view,  the  reader  is  referred  to  a  work 
intituled  “  The  Southern  Generals.” 
Also,  Heros  Von  Brocke’s  “Memoirs 
of  the  Confederate  War,”  Two  Vols., 
London,  1866,  8vo. 

67  He  was  born  at  Hackensack 
N.  J.,  June  12th  1798.  He  served 
during  the  Florida  and  Mexican  Wars. 
In  March  1861,  he  retired  from  the 
United  States  service,  and  he  was 
now  appointed  Adjutant  and  Inspec¬ 
tor-General  of  the  Confederate  army. 
See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of  Amer¬ 
ican  Biography,”  Vol.  i.,  p.  732. 

68  His  son  William  Preston  Johns¬ 
ton.  has  written  and  published  a 
“  Life  of  General  Albert  Sydney 
Johnston,”  New  York,  1878,  8vo. 

69  He  was  born  in  Stratford  Va., 
January  19th  1807,  and  he  was  the 
ablest  of  all  the  Southern  Generals. 
See  General  A.  L.  Long’s  “  Memoirs 
of  Robert  E.  Lee.”  New  York,  1886, 
8vo. 

70  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  i.,  p. 
440. 

71  See  ibid.,  Vol.  iv.,  p.  174. 

72  See  ibid.,  Vol.  vi.,  p.  662. 


ACTION  OF  NAPOLEON  III.  AND  OF  LORD  PALMERSTON. 


3  8fr 


Episcopal  Bishop  Leonidas  Polk,73  now  brevetted  a  Confederate 
General,  took  possession  of  Columbas,  a  strong  position,  on  September 
4th  ;  while  General  Merriwether  Jeff.  Thompson  74  co-operated  with 
him,  by  occupying  posiiions  on  the  Missouri  side  of  the  Iiiver 
Mississippi.  A  few  days  later,  the  Federal  General  Hiram  Ulysses  S. 
Grant75  occupied  Paducah,  where  the  Cumberland  enters  the  Ohio 
River,  with  a  small  force  of  United  States  troops.76  Louisville  was 
also  occupied.  Soon  afterwards,  General  Albert  Sydney  Johnston, 
being  sent  by  President  Davis  to  command  the  Western  department, 
issued  a  proclamation  justifying  this  entry  of  the  Confederate  Army 
into  Kentucky,  owing  to  the  threatening  attitude  of  the  Federal 
Government  ;  affirming  also,  that  he  was  willing  to  withdraw  his  army 
from  Kentucky,  whenever  he  had  satisfactory  evidence  of  a  similar 
intention  on  the  part  of  the  United  States.  Hostilities  then  com¬ 
menced  between  the  rival  forces  ;  and  the  horrors  of  an  irregular  war¬ 
fare  were  inflicted  on  the  population,  with  much  destruction  of  life  and 
property.77  General  Johnston  occupied  Bowling  Green  Ky.,  with 
4,000  troops  under  General  Buckner.  This  place  he  strongly  fortified, 
and  then  he  asked  for  additional  forces  from  President  Davis.  Lexing¬ 
ton  in  Kentucky  was  surrendered  to  the  Confederate  forces,  after 
three  days’  fighting,  during  the  month  of  September. 

Meanwhile,  an  expedition  having  been  organised  against  the  South, 
to  seize  and  hold  Bull’s  Bay  S.C  ,  and  Ferdinanda  Fla,  for  the  use  of 
the  blockading  fleet,  General  Thomas  West  Sherman7S  with  a  body  of 
troops  effected  a  landing  on  the  coast  of  Port  Royal  Bay,  in  South 
Carolina,  on  the  21st  of  October.  After  a  battle,  which  lasted  about 
four  hours,  he  compelled  the  Confederates  to  abandon  their  forts,  of 
which  he  then  took  possession. 

At  the  end  of  this  month,  on  account  of  his  age  and  infirmities, 
General  Scott  resigned  the  command  in  chief  of  the  United  States 
army  ;  while  Major-General  M'Clellan  was  appointed  to  succeed  him.79 
The  new  General  busily  occupied  himself  in  organizing  and  drilling  the 
troops  placed  under  his  direction.  Towards  the  close  of  this  year, 
Jefferson  Davis  was  formally  elected  Southern  President,  and  he  was 


7:!See  “  Encyclopedia  Americana,” 
Vol.  iv.,  p.  222. 

74  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaadia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  vii.  p.  94. 

73At  a  later  period  he  was  ap¬ 
pointed  Commauder-in-Chief  of  the 
Army  of  the  West.  Subsequently,  as 
Lieutenant-General  over  all  the  United 
States  Army,  he  directed  its  operations 
until  the  close  of  the  war. 

76See  Brigadier-General  Adam 
Badeau’s  “  Military  History  of  Ulys¬ 
ses  S.  Grant,  from  April  1861,  to 
April,  1865,”  Vol.  i.,  clap,  i,  This 
very  detailed  and  accurate  work, 
illustrated  with  several  Maps  of 


Battles,  was  issued  at  London  and 
New  York,  1S81,  in  three  volumes,. 
8vo. 

77  See  “  History  of  the  American 
War  from  1861  to  1865,”  by  Lieut- 
Colonel  Fletcher,  Vol.  i.,  chap.  viii., 
pp.  193  to  199. 

78  He  was  born  in  Newport,  R.I., 
and  he  served  with  distinction  in  the 
Mexican  War,  as  also  afterwards  in 
Kansas.  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopas- 
dia  of  American  Biography,”  Vol.  v.y 
p.  502. 

79  See  “Abraham  Lincoln,  a  His¬ 
tory,”  Vol.  iv.,  chap,  xxv.,  pp.  440 
to  470. 


2  A 


386 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


entrusted  with  the  general  direction  of  affairs  for  the  term  of  six 
years.80 

The  French  Emperor,  Napoleon  III.  and  the  British  Government- 
then  directed  by  the  tortuous  policy  of  Lord  Palmerston — as  also  the 
Tories  and  most  influential  oligarchical  party  in  Great  Britain,  were 
rejoiced  at  the  prospect  of  ruin,  which  then  seemed  impending  over  the 
great  Transatlantic  Republic  •,  while  the  Irish  people,  with  the  demo¬ 
cracy  of  England,  Scotland,  and  Wales,  dreaded  the  possible  results  of 
the  coming  contest,  on  the  cause  of  freedom  and  progress.  Early  in 
the  threatened  struggle,  Queen  Victoria  was  urged  through  her  ministers 
to  favour  the  Confederates,  and  to  issue  a  proclamation  of  neutrality, 
which  accorded  to  them  the  rights  of  a  belligerent  power.  These  friendly 
indications  of  favour  towards  the  rebels  soon  ripened  into  an  assurance 
that  they  might  reckon  on  the  sympathies — if  not  the  assistance — of 
France  and  of  England,  once  they  had  entered  upon  a  general  war.81 

Accordingly,  to  open  negotiations  with  these  countries,  Messrs.  James 
M.  Mason82  and  John  Slidell83  were  selected  as  the  Southern  Com¬ 
missioners  and  bearers  of  Eu  opean  despatches.  A  steamer  called  the 
Trent  had  been  running  a r,  an  English  mail-packet  between  Vera  Cruz 
and  the  island  of  St.  Thomas.  On  the  7th  of  November.  1851,  she  left 
Havanna,  where  she  had  called,  to  take  in  additional  mails  and 
passengers.  Thence  she  proceeded  to  St.  Thomas,  where  the  mails  and 
passengers  were  to  be  trans  shipped  for  England.  Among  the  persons 
taken  on  board  at  Havanna  were  Messrs.  Mason  and  Slidell.  The 
governtnent  at  Washington  had  received  intelligence  regarding  their 
purposes,  and  without  formal  instruction  given,  measures  were  arranged 
to  procure  their  detention  or  arrest.  The  Trent  was  compelled  to  stop 
by  the  San  Jacinto,  a  vessel  of  war  belonging  to  the  United  States,  and 
under  the  command  of  Captain  Charles  Wilkes.84  His  misinterpretation 
of  national  law  caused  this  officer  to  believe  he  was  justified  in 
boarding  the  English  steamer.  A  lieutenant  with  a  guard  of  armed 
marines  demanded  that  Messrs.  Mason  and  Slidell,  with  their  secre 
taries,  should  be  delivered  up  to  him  as  prisoners  of  war.85  This  was 


80  An  account  of  his  administration, 
and  a  statement  of  its  proceedings, 
will  be  found  in  a  work  written  by 
himself,  *•  The  Rise  and  Fall  of  the 
Confederate  Government,”  in  Two 
Vols.,  London,  1S81,  8vo. 

81  See  John  Bigelow,  *  France  and 
the  Confederate  Navy,”  New  York, 
1888,  8vo. 

82  See  Appleton’s  “  Cvclopmdia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  iv.  p. 
243. 

83  See  “  Encyclopedia  Americana,” 
Vol.  iv.,  p.  530, 

84  He  was  born  in?  New  York  City 
1801,  and  he  is  said  to  have  been  a 


nephew  of  the  celebrated  English  John 
Wilkes.  He  was  then  renowned  as  an 
explorer.  In  1862,  for  distinguished 
services,  he  was  made  a  commodore, 
and  he,  during  the  Confederate  War, 
was  vigilant  in  enforcing  the  blockade 
and  in  capturing  blockade  runners. 
As  rear-admiral  he  retired  in  1866. 
and  he  died  in  Washington,  February 
8th  1877.  See  “  Encyclopaedia  Ame¬ 
ricana,”  Vol.  iv.,  pp.  778,  779. 

85  See  Joseph  Irving's  *  Annals  of 
Our  Time,”  p.  457.  Also,  Dr.  John 
William  Draper’s  “  History  of  the 
American  Civil  War,”  Vol.  ii.,  sect., 
xiii.,  chap.  Jxii.,  pp.  531  to  538. 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  WAR. 


387 


at  length  done,  but  under  protest.  The  Confederate  despatches  and  papers 
meanwhile,  and  before  their  capture,  had  been  previously  destroyed.80 

When  intelligence  of  those  proceedings  reached  England  on  the 
27th  of  November,  a  cabinet  council  was  held,  and  the  conduct  of 
Captain  Wilkes  was  carefully  considered,  but  in  a  spirit  of  hostility  to 
the  United  States.  As  a  result,  the  Government  resolved  to  demand 
the  release  of  those  four  persons,  who  had  been  seized.  Various 
opinions  were  then  held,  and  gave  rise  to  discussions  regarding  the  cir¬ 
cumstances  and  the  principles  involved.  As  a  menace  to  the  Americans, 
Lord  Falmerston  at  once  despatched  the  Guards  and  other  British 
troops  to  Canada.87  However,  prudential  motives  operated  at  that 
time,  on  both  sides,  and  urged  a  pacific  solution.  The  seizure  act  was 
undoubtedly  warranted  by  the  British  claim  of  right  to  search,  which 
led  to  the  war  of  1812.  But  the  United  States  resolved  to  yield  their 
prisoners  to  the  British  authorities,  urged  by  the  Secretary  of  State 
Mr.  Seward.88  He  argued,  that  Captain  Wilkes’  action  was  opposed  to 
the-  American  interpretation  of  international  law.  Happily  for  the 
respective  governments,  an  anticipated  war  and  at  a  critical  juncture 
was  thus  prevented.89 

Meantime,  Napoleon  III.  had  desired  to  establish  an  empire  in 
Mexico,90  and  chose  for  the  victim  of  his  visionary  political  schemes  the 
unfortunate  Maximilian,  brother  to  the  Austrian  Emperor  Francis 
Joseph.  He  had  engaged  Spain  and  England  also  in  that  enterprise,  m 
which  their  respective  cabinets  had  the  same  self-seeking  but  divergent 
speculations  ;91  however,  all  three  powers  united  in  desiring  a  dismember¬ 
ment  of  the  United  States,  and  the  occasion  92  seemed  to  be  opportune* 
when  the  civil  war  broke  out.  According  to  a  preconcerted  agreement, 
Spain  equipped  a  squadron  having  nearly  6,000  soldiers  on  board  ;  and 
parting  from  Cuba,  these  arrived  before  Vera  Cruz  on  the  8th  of 
December  1861,  taking  possession  of  the  city,  without  even  a  declara¬ 
tion  of  war,  on  the  7th  of  January  1862.  The  French  with  2,400 
troops  and  the  English  with  1,000  disembarked  in  the  same  port. 
Nevertheless,  the  imperious  condition's  of  the  French  stipulations 


86  See  “  Abraham  Lincoln,  a  His¬ 
tory,”  Vol.  v.,  chap,  ii.,  pp.  21  to 
41. 

8T  See  “The  Life  of  John  Henry 
Temple,  Viscount  Palmerston :  1846- 
1865,”  &c.,  by  the  Hon.  Evelyn 

Ashley,  M.P.,  Vol.  ii.  chap,  viii.,  pp. 
219,  220. 

88  The  official  correspondence  of 
William  Henry  Seward  has  been  pub¬ 
lished  by  order  of  the  Congress.  His 
Life  and  an  edition  of  his  works 
have  been  edited  by  George  E.  Baker 
to  1853,  in  three  vols.  A  fourth 
vol.  was  added  in  1862  and  a  fifth 
in  1884.  Seward  died  in  Auburn  N.Y., 
Oct.  10th  1872. 


89  See  Spencer  Walpole’s  “Life  of 
Lord  John  Bussell,”  Vol.  ii.,  pp. 
344,  345. 

90  See  on  this  subject,  the  French 
account,  in  the  work  of  General  Regis 
de  Trobriand,  “  Quatre  Annees  a  1* 
Armee  du  Potomac,”  in  two  volumes, 
Paris,  1867. 

91  See  Justin  McCarthy's  “  History 
of  our  own  Times,”  Vol.  iii.,  chap, 
xliv.,  pp.  165  to  167. 

92  On  this  subject,  as  on  subsequent 
occurrences  in  relation  to  the  Em¬ 
peror’s  policy,  the  reader  may  consult 
Colonel  F.  Lecomte’s  “  L’  Histoire  de 
la  Secession.” 


388  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


caused  a  disagreement  on  the  part  of  Spain  and  England.  The  honour 
and  interests  of  both  these  nations  had  been  already  sufficiently 
compromised,  by  their  respective  ministers  ;  and  now,  they  resolved  on 
withdrawing  their  troops,  leaving  to  Napoleon  III.  the  prosecution  of 
this  iniquitously  provoked  war.93  These  proceedings  were  in  direct 
contravention  of  the  Monroe  doctrine,  which  had  hitherto  been 
accepted  as  the  policy  of  all  parties  in  the  United  States;  but  to 
engage  in  a  European  war,  at  that  particular  time,  must  have  been 
attended  with  great  risk  and  embarrassment  to  their  Government.94 
The  forms  of  diplomacy  were  adopted,  to  veil  implied  protests  against 
the  Mexican  intervention  by  France  ;  and  the  course  of  events  ren¬ 
dered  that  intervention  so  complete  a  failure,  that  all  occasion  for 
future  hostility  was  happily  averted.95 

Every  effort  was  made  by  the  President,  the  members  of  his 
Cabinet,  the  Senate,  and  House  of  Representatives,  to  equip  and 
organise  a  vast  army  for  that  most  serious  civil  war  in  which  they  were 
now  engaged.  In  this  endeavour,  they  were  most  zealously  aided  by 
the  Northern  people  and  by  their  Legislators.96  The  Congress  of  the 
Federal  States  met  at  Washington,  on  the  2nd  of  December.  In  his 
message  which  followed,  President  Lincoln  stated  the  numbers  of  the 
Federal  army  to  be  over  20,000  regulars,  and  over  640,000  volunteers, 
the  aggregate  constituting  660,971  men.97  In  like  manner,  the  utmost 
energies  of  flie  Secretary  of  the  Navy  were  put  forth  fully  to  equip  that 
arm  of  the  service.98 

To  counteract  these  preparations,  the  Southerners  had  already  a 
very  complete  armament,  and  of  a  superior  quality,  in  the  arsenals  at 
Charleston,  Fayetteville,  Augusta,  and  Mount  Vernon;  besides  the 
large  supply  of  115,000  muskets  transported  thither,  through  the 
agency  of  John  Buchanan  Floyd,  Minister  of  War99  under  President 
Buchanan.  Notwithstanding  that  blockade  maintained  by  the  northern 
vessels  around  the  southern  coasts,  owing  to  the  activity  of  President 
Davis’  administration  and  the  zeal  of  British  sympathisers,  warlike 
munitions  were  introduced  from  England,  and  from  other  countries  in 
Europe,  by  swift  steamers  known  as  Blockade  Runners.  Numerous 
foundries  and  workshops  for  casting  cannon  and  forming  projectiles 


93  See  “  Histoire  de  France  depuis, 
1789  jusq  ’a  nos  Jours,”  par  Henri 
Martin,  Tome  vi.,  chap,  viii.,  pp. 
285  to  291. 

94  For  the  judicious  policy  taken  by 
the  President  throughout  the  whole 
course  of  his  administration,  the 
reader  is  referred  to  Raymond’s 
“  Life  and  Public  Services  of  Abra¬ 
ham  Lincoln,”  New  York,  1865,  8vo. 

95  See  Justin  M'Carthy’s  “  History 
of  Our  Own  Times,”  Yol.  iii.,  chap, 
xliv.,  pp.  167  to  169. 

96  See  “  Histoire  de  la  Guerre  Civile 


en  Amerique,”  par  M.  le  Comte  de 
Paris.  Tome  Premier,  Liv.  iii.,  chap, 
iii.,  pp.  474  to  519. 

97  See  Dr.  John  William  Draper’s 
“  History  of  the  American  Civil 
War,”  Vol.  ii. ,  sect,  viii.,  chap,  xliv., 
pp.  191  to  197. 

98  See  Ibid.,  chap,  xlv.,  pp.  201  to 
215. 

99  Bom  in  Blacksburg  Va.,  June 
1807.  He  died  at  Abingdon  Va., 
August  26th  1865.  See  Appleton’s 
“  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Biography,” 
Vol.  ii.,  pp.  4  87,  488. 


—  I  — 


ft*  i 


OPENINGS  Of  THE  CHESAPEAKE  AND  POTOMAC  RlVKHS. 


Cincinnati 


RIVER 


outs  ville 


RIVER 


S RIVER 

ZBon'/mj 
C  ree.n. 


Co  I  urn  b 


1/e.wMadr 


nn 


Ft  Henry 


Has  b  y/JI <e 

Mur  fra.  es  boro 


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vLanci 


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MISSES  I  PP  I 


OfMINO  SCKNKS  OF  GRANT’S  CaMPAION  IN  MISSOURI  AND  TENNESSEE 


EXPEDITION  TO  ALBEMARLE  SOUND  389 

were  established  near  Richmond,  and  in  other  places ;  while  some  of 
the  most  approved  artillery  at  that  time,  invented  or  fashioned  by 
Armstrong,  Whitworth,  Blakeley,  Parrott,  Dahlgren  and  Brooke, 
arrived  in  English  vessels.100  The  chief  generals  and  officers  of  the 
Confederate  army  had  served  with  distinction  in  previous  military 
capacities,  while  their  volunteers  and  impressed  soldiers  were  found 
to  be  both  brave  and  capable  for  the  requirements  of  a  war,  which 
was  destined  to  be  fought  with  such  determination  and  obstinacy  on 
both  sides. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 


The  United  States  Government  prepare  for  the  coming  Campaign — In  January 
18(52  General  Burnside  conducts  an  Expedition  to  Albemarle  Sound — 
Major-General  Halleck  and  General  Buell  appointed  to  direct  military 
Operations  in  the  West — Victorious  Campaign  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee— 
Generals  Price  and  M‘Culloch  driven  out  of  Missouri — Engagement  between 
the  Ironclads,  Monitor  and  Merrimack — Preparations  for  an  Advance  of 
General  McClellan  against  Richmond — The  Shenandoah  Valiev — A  new 
Plan  of  Operations  designed  by  General  McClellan — The  Confederate 
Conscription  Act — Movements  of  General  Grant  in  the  West — Battle  of 
Shiloh  or  Pittsburg  Landing— Expedition  against  New  Orleans — Capture  of 
Memphis  by  the  Federals. 

Vast  preparations  had  been  made  for  the  prosecution  of  the  war  in 
the  beginning  of  1862.  While  armies  had  been  sent  to  open  the 
Mississippi,  and  to  d'sperse  the  Confederate  forces  assembled  in  the 
West,  to  General  McClellan  was  assigned  the  charge  of  organizing  an 
army  of  nearly  200,000  men,  mustered  and  encamped  near  Washington.1 
Land  and  sea  armaments  were  also  directed  to  capture  and  close  the 
harbours  of  the  Confederates  on  the  Atlantic  coasts.  These  combina¬ 
tions  and  movements  were  intended  to  be  nearly  simultaneous. 

For  several  months,  rebel  batteries  planted  at  the  opening  of  the 
Potomac  River  and  at  the  inlets  of  Chesapeake  Bay  had  seriously 
affected  vessels  seeking  approach  to  the  national  capital.  However,  a 
coast  division  under  General  Ambrose  E.  Burnside2  was  organized,  and 
this  was  destined  to  operate  against  those  detachments  formed  to 
obstruct  navigation.  Meantime,  wider  designs  having  been  matured 
by  the  Government,  an  expedition  against  the  Southern  coasts  was 
planned,  and  Burnside  was  directed  to  assume  command  over  the 
Department  of  North  Carolina,  which  was  then  created. 

Accordingly,  under  Comr'  idore  Louis  M.  Goldsborough3  a  fleet  had 


100  See  M.  le  Comte  de  Paris,  “  His- 
toire  de  ia  Guerre  Civile  en  Ameri- 
que,”  Tome  i.,  Liv.  iii.,  chap,  iv., 
pp.  529  to  573. 

1  See  M.  le  Comte  de  Paris,  “  His- 
toire  de  la  Guerre  Civile  eu  Ameri- 


que,”  Tome  i.,  Liv.  ii.,  chap,  iii., 
pp.  465  to  527. 

2  See  Benjamin  Perley  Poore’s 
“  Life  and  Public  Services  of  Ambrose 
E.  Burnside,”  Providence  R.I.,  1882. 

3  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 


390 


IRISH -AMERICAN'  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


been  drawn  together  and  assembled  at  Fortress  Monroe  and  at  Annapolis. 
This  flotilla  was  intended  for  operations  along  the  lower  Potomac  and 
Chesapeake  Bay;  but  afterwards,  it  was  directed  by  General  M'Clellan. 
for  Ilatteras  Inlet  and  Roanoake  Island,  off  the  coast  of  North 
Carolina,  where  it  was  thought  in  the  N  orthern  States,  that  a  large  pro¬ 
portion  of  its  people  were  attached  to  the  Union.  With  its  twenty -six 
gunboats  and  transports,  the  fleet  consisted  of  about  sixty-five  vessels. 
The  United  States  General  Burnside,  with  three  brigades  under  his. 
command,4  sailed  from  Annapolis  in  the  beginning  of  January  1862. 
On  the  8th  of  February,  Roanoake  Island  with  its  garrison  and  guns 
was  captured  by  the  Federals.  This  gave  them  command  of  Albemarle 
Sound.  On  the  14th  of  March,  they  advanced,  and  after  a  brisk 
engagement  with  a  loss  of  91  killed  and  466  wounded,  General  Burnside 
took  possession  of  Newbern.  These  reverses  to  the  Confederates  on  that 
coast  were  severely  felt,  and  rendered  the  blockade  of  the  remaining 
ports  more  easy,  while  they  tended  to  raise  the  spirits  of  people  in  the 
Northern  States.5 

For  the  conducting  of  operations  in  the  West,  two  large  armies  had 
been  mustered — one  corps  with  head-quarters  at  St.  Louis  Mo.,  com¬ 
manded  by  Major-General  Henry  W.  Halleck,6  the  other  under  General 
Don  Carlos  Buell,7  having  his  head-quarters  at  Louisville  Ky.  The 
former  manifested  great  administrative  and  military  abilities  in  restoring 
order,  and  in  directing  operations  against  the  secessionists.  Under  the 
latter  General,  George  FI.  Thomas8  served.  General  Grant  had  taken 
possession  of  Paducah,  at  the  junction  of  the  Ohio  and  Tennessee  rivers, 
and  General  Thomas  marched  to  Lexington  Ky.  General  William 
Tecumseh  Sherman9  was  also  appointed  to  assist  their  military  move¬ 
ments,  but  a  sufficiency  of  troops  was  still  wanting,  to  begin  operations  on 
a  large  scale,  during  the  remainder  of  the  year  1861.  However,  General 
Grant  was- not  idle.  He  conducted  an  expedition  down  the  Mississippi 
river  to  Belmont  on  the  Missouri  shore,  to  break  up  a  rebel  camp.  At 


American  Biography,”  Vol.  ii.,  p. 
673. 

4  These  were  commanded  by  Gene¬ 
rals  Foster,  Reno,  and  Parke,  besides 
a  brigade  under  General  Williams 
was  stationed  at  Hatteras  Inlet,  but 
it  took  no  very  active  part  in  these 
operations. 

5  See  Lieutenant- Colonel  Fletcher’s 
“  History  of  the  American  War  from 
1861  to  1865,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xii.,  pp. 
284  to  298. 

6  He  was  born  at  Westernville 
N.Y.,  January  16th  1815,  and  gradu¬ 
ated  in  the  United  States  military 
academy.  During  the  Mexican  War 
he  served  with  distinction  in  Cali¬ 
fornia.  See  Appleton’s  “  Cycloptedia 


of  American  Biography,”  Vol.  iii. ,  pp. 
48  to  51. 

7  See  ibid.,  Vol.  i.,  pp.  441,  442. 

8  The  biography  of  this  very  able- 
general  has  been  written  by  Thomas- 
B.  Van  Horne,  and  published  at  New 
York,  in  1882. 

9  He  was  born  in  Lancaster  Ohio, 
February  8th  1820.  He  graduated 
at  West  Point  in  1840.  He  served 
in  the  Mexican  War,  and  in  the  bat¬ 
tle  at  Bull  Run  he  commanded  a 
brigade  comprising  the  13th,  69th, 
and  79th  New  York  and  the  2nd 
Wisconsin  Regiments.  He  has  pub¬ 
lished  “  Memoirs  of  General  William 
T.  Sherman,”  by  himself.  New  York, 
IBAb,  8vo.  A  new  edition  issued  in 
1885. 


VICTORIOUS  CAMPAIGN  IN  KENTUCKY  AND  TENNESSEE. 


391 


first  successful.  Confederate  reinforcements  arrived  which  converted  his 
victory  into  a  retreat.10  General  Zollicoffer  had  now  a  fortified  camp 
on  the  north  bank  of  Cumberland  River  ;  whence  General  Ruell  resolved 
to  dislodge  him,  but  he  could  only  send  General  Thomas  forward  and 
with  a  less  numerous  force. 

On  the  10th  of  January  1862,  with  a  greatly  inferior  force,  Colonel 
James  Abram  Garfield 11  boldly  attacked  and  defeated  Humphrey 
Marshall 12  at  Middle  Creek,  and  this  was  followed  up  by  other  successes. 
At  Mill  Spring,  on  the  19th  of  January,  General  George  H.  Thomas 
fought  George  B.  Crittenden  13  and  Zollicoffer  the  Confederate  leader, 
who  advanced  to  crush  him,  before  his  few  regiments  could  be  collected. 
However,  he  accepted  battle  and  completely  defeated  them.  The 
former  lost  246  men,  and  the  latter  343.  In  this  battle,  the  Confederate 
General  Zollicoffer  was  killed,  and  his  men  retreated  in  great  disorder 
beyond  the  Cumberland  River. 

On  the  11th  of  January,  the  Secretary  of  War  Simon  Cameron 14 
resigned  his  portfolio,  and  he  was  succeeded  by  Edwin  M.  Stanton.15 
The  Governor  of  Tennessee  Isham  G.  Harris10  and  its  Legislature  had 
secretly  formed  a  military  organization,  which  overawed  the  majority 
of  the  people,  who  were  most  reluctantly  drawn  into  secession.  This 
was  especially  the  case  in  the  eastern  parts  of  that  State,  where  the 
Union  party  took  up  arms  and  demanded  aid  from  the  Eederal  Govern¬ 
ment.  This  assistance  was  slow  in  coming,  notwithstanding  urgent 
messages  sent  to  General  Buell.  Meanwhile,  Governor  Harris  had 
procured  troops  from  a  distance,  and  gathering  others  for  the  march, 
these  promptly  moved  against  the  unsupported  loyalists  who  were 
speedily  suppressed,  and  several  were  summarily  executed.17 

Meanwhile,  General  Albert  Sydney  Johnston  in  Kentucky  held 
the  Northern  army  in  check  until  February.  He  then  retired  to 
Nashville.18  The  Confederates  held  two  very  strong  positions  in  the 
State  of  Tennessee.  One  of  these  was  Fort  Henry  on  the  Tennessee 


10  See  Adam  Badeau’s  “Military 
History  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant,”  Vol.  i., 
chap,  i.,  pp.  15  to  18. 

1 1  He  was  born  in  Orange,  Cuyahoga 
County,  Ohio,  19th  of  November 
1851,  and  after  a  course  of  life  dis¬ 
playing  great  energy  of  character  and 
ability,  he  volunteered  as  a  civilian 
in  August  1861.  His  military  ser¬ 
vices  were  so  distinguished  that  he 
was  created  Major  General  on  the  19th 
of  September  1863.  Subsequently 
pursuing  a  political  career,  he  became 
the  twentieth  President  of  the  United 
States.  His  works  in  two  volumes 
have  been  edited  by  Burke  A.  Hins¬ 
dale,  and  published  in  Boston,  1882. 
The  most  complete  life  of  him  is 
that  written  by  James  R.  Gilmore, 
and  published  in  New  York,  1880 


12  He  was  born  in  Frankfort,  Ky., 

January  13th  1812.  He  died  in 

Louisville,  Kv.,  March  28th  1872. 

13  Born  in  Russellville  Ky.,  March 
20th  1812. 

14  See  Appleton’s  “Cyclopaedia  of 

American  Biography,”  Yol.  i.,  p. 

509. 

13  He  was  born  in  Steubenville 

Ohio,  December  19th  1884,  and  he 
died  in  Washington,  D.C.,  December 
24th  1869.  See  ibid.,  Vol.  v.,  pp. 
648,  649. 

16  See  ibid.,  Vol.  Hi.,  p.  92. 

17  See  “Abraham  Lincoln,  a  His¬ 
tory,”  Vol.  v.,  chap,  iv.,  pp.  58  to 
80. 

18  See  Chambers’  “Encyclopaedia,  a 
Dictionary  of  Universal  Knowledge,’* 
Vol.  vi.,  p.  348.  New  edition. 


392 


IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


River,  and  the  other  was  Fort  Donelson  on  the  Cumberland  River.  A 
combined  movement  of  General  Grant’s  land  forces  and  the  gun-boats  of 
Commodore  Andrew  H.  Foote  were  designed  for  their  reduction.  The 
latter,  havirg  united  his  fleet  of  gunboats  at  the  junction  of  the  Rivers 
Mississippi  and  Ohio,  left  Cairo,  and  ascended  the  Tennessee  River.19 

Before  the  arrival  of  General  Grant,  Fort  Henry,  held  by  the  Con¬ 
federates  under  Brigadier-General  Lloyd  Tilghman,20  was  attacked  by 
the  gun-boats,  and  it  surrendered  to  Commodore  A.  H.  Foote  on  the 
6th  of  February.21  Most  of  the  garrison  escaped,  nevertheless,  and 
reached  Fort  Donelson.  In  order  to  operate  against  this  stronghold,  it 
was  necessary  to  move  the  gun-boats  down  the  Tennessee  to  the  Ohio 
River ;  then  it  became  requisite,  to  ascend  a  portion  of  this  latter,  and 
to  move  up  the  Cumberland.  It  was  only  on  the  14th  of  that  month, 
the  combined  forces  were  ready  for  such  an  attack ;  but,  owing  to  the 
peculiar  position  of  the  fort,  the  gun-boats  could  effect  very  little  ;  while 
in  addition,  exposed  greatly  to  their  enemy’s  batteries,  the  vessels  were 
badly  injured.22  However,  General  Grant  pressed  the  garrison  of 
22,000  men  under  Generals  Simon  B.  Buckner23  Gideon  J.  Pillow  24 
and  John  B.  Floyd.25  The  latter  was  chief  in  command.  At  first,  it 
was  resolved  to  attack  the  Federals,  before  the  arrival  of  some  fresli 
droops  they  expected.  General  Buckner’s  advanced  division  was 
successful  for  a  time ;  but  not  being  supported,  it  was  obliged  to 
retreat,  and  the  Federals  under  General  John  E.  Smith26  took 
possession  of  some  entrenched  works.  In  this  battle,  the  Federals 
lost  upwards  of  1,000  men.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  16th,  as 
the  communication  with  Nashville  had  now  been  cut  off,  the  three 
Confederate  Generals  resolved  on  the  surrender  of  Fort  Donelson,  and 
the  conducting  of  such  a  negotiation  with  the  command  was  turned 
over  to  General  Buckner.  However,  General  Grant  rejected  all  over¬ 
tures,  and  insisted  on  an  immediate  submission.  Thus  pressed,  the 
Confederates  surrendered  without  conditions  to  the  Federal  army,  who 
captured  here  14,623  prisoners,  including  three  generals,  65  cannon, 
1 7,000  small  arms,  and  a  large  quantity  of  war  material.  During  these 
operations,  over  2,000  in  killed  and  wounded  were  numbered.27  Generals 
Floyd  and  Pillow  with  5,000  troops  had  escaped  during  the  preceding 
night.  Also,  Colonel  Nathan  B.  Forrest,28  with  the  greater  portion  of 


19  See  Alfred  Roman’s  “  Military 
Operations  of  General  Beauregard,” 
Ac.,  Vol.  i,,  cliap.  xv.,  pp.  218  to  231. 

20  See  Appleton’s  “Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,  Vol.  vi.,  p. 
117. 

21  See  J.  M.  Hoppin’s  “Life  of  A. 
H.  Foote,”  1874,  8vo. 

22  According  to  Commodore  Foote’s 
Report. 

23  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  i.,  p. 
440. 


24  See  the  “  Encyclopaedia  Ameri¬ 
cana,”  Vol.  iv.,  pp.  208,  209. 

25  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  ii.,  pp. 
487,  488. 

26  See  ibid.,  Vol.  v.,  p.  572. 

27  See  “  Histoire  de  la  Guerre  Civile 
en  Amerique,”  par  M.  le  Comte  da 
Paris,  Tome  ii.,  Liv.  ii.,  chap,  i., 
pp.  299  to  327 

28  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  ii.,  pp. 
505,  506. 


GENERALS  PRICE  AND  M'CULLOCH  DRIVEN  OUT  OF  MISSOURI.  393 

his  cavalry,  escaped  through  a  road  then  flooded  and  extending  along  the 
river  bank.29  In  consequence  of  this  surrender,  the  Confederates 
abandoned  Columbus,  Bowling  Green  and  Nashville.80  Giving  up  the 
whole  of  Kentucky,  and  most  of  Tennessee,  they  retreated  southwards. 
Soon  a  strong  Union  party  was  formed  in  that  district  of  country.31 

In  the  latter  State,  Senator  Andrew  Johnson32  a  man  of  independ¬ 
ent  views  on  many  public  questions  had  resolutely  announced  his 
intention  to  stand  by  and  act  in  and  under  the  U nited  States  Constitu¬ 
tion.  So  far  being  in  accord  with  the  administration  at  Washington,  he 
was  appointed  Military  Governor  there,33  with  the  rank  of  Brigadier- 
General,  March  4th  1862.  His  opposition  to  secession  had  drawn  upon 
him  the  most  violent  attacks  in  the  South,  and  particularly  from 
Jefferson  Davis.34 

In  the  meantime,  having  collected  his  forces,  General  John  Pope35 
very  actively  scattered  the  guerilla  bands  of  Missouri  and  protected  the 
railway  communications.  On  the  18th  of  December  1861,  an  engage¬ 
ment  took  place  at  Blackwater,  where  Price  was  signally  defeated,  with 
a  loss  besides  of  1,300  prisoners,  arms,  ammunition  and  supplies.  This 
victory  obliged  him  to  retreat  below  the  Osage  River,  which  he  never 
again  crossed.  However,  he  was  reported  to  have  collected  30,000  men 
at  Springfield,  and  General  Earl  Van  Dorn36  was  thought  to  be 
approaching  from  Arkansas  to  aid  him  with  10,000  troops.  Whereupon, 
General  Samuel  Ryan  Curtis37  advanced  against  Price,  who  retreated 
from  Springfield  on  the  13th  of  February  1862.  The  Confederate  forces 
of  Missouri,  commanded  by  Price  and  McCulloch,  were  at  length  driven 
out  of  the  State,  and  vigourously  pursued  into  Arkansas  by  General 
Curtis.  There  they  united  with  troops  raised  by  Van  Dorn,  and  with 
a  force  of  16,000  men,  they  began  to  march  against  10,500  Federal 
troops.  In  north-western  Arkansas,  Generals  Curtis  and  Sigel  occupied 
a  strong  position  at  Pea  Ridge.  There  they  were  attacked  by  the  Con- 


29  See  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fletcher’s 
“  History  of  the  American  War  from 
1861  to  1865,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xi.,  pp. 
265  to  274. 

30  See  Alfred  Roman’s  “  Military 
Operations  of  General  Beauregard,” 
&c.,  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xvii.,  p.  246. 

31  See  Dr.  John  William  Draper’s 
“  History  of  the  American  Civil 
War,”  Vol.  ii.,  sect,  x.,  chap,  xlix., 
pp.  260  to  271. 

32  Afterwards,  he  became  Vice-Pre¬ 
sident,  and  succeeded  Abraham  Lincoln 
as  seventeenth  President  of  the  United 
States.  His  “  Speeches  ”  were  pub¬ 
lished  with  a  biographical  introduc¬ 
tion,  by  Frank  Moore,  at  Boston,  in 
1865. 

33  See  Chambers’s  “  Encyclopaedia, 


a  Dictionary  of  Universal  Know¬ 
ledge,”  Vol.  vi.,  p.  345,  New  edition. 

34  See  Pierre  Larousse’s  “  Grand 
Dictionnarie  Universel  du  XIXe 
Siecle,”  Tome  ix.,  p.  1001. 

35  He  was  born  in  Louisville  Ky., 
March  16th  1822,  and  he  participated 
in  the  Mexican  War.  He  was  also 
an  able  engineer,  and  surveyor  of 
public  routes  in  the  United  States 
service,  until  made  Brigadier-General 
of  Volunteers,  May  17th  1861. 

36  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  vi.,  pp. 
244  to  248. 

37  Born  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
and  of  Irish  lineage,  February  3rd 
1807.  He  served  with  distinction  in 
the  Mexican  War.  See  ibid.,  Vol. 
ii.,  p.  37. 


394 


IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


M 

Im 

m 


federates,  March  6th,  with  a  greatly  superior  force.  On  the  7th  was 
fought  an  obstinate  engagement.  Van  Horn  made  a  flank  movement 
during  the  night,  and  had  gained  the  right  and  rear  of  Curtis’  army. 
However,  in  perfect  order,  the  Federal  general  changed  line  and  gained 
a  still  stronger  position.  The  rebels  furiously  attacked  his  right  and 
centre,  but  in  that  onset,  Generals  Benjamin  M'Culloch,38  James 
M.‘Intosh39  and  other  prominent  officers  fell;  while  throughout  that 
whole  day,  the  Union  troops  stubbornly  maintained  their  position.  On 
the  morning  of  the  8th  Curtis  reformed  his  lines,  and  leading  the  attack, 
soon  were  the  Confederates  in  retreat.  This  encounter  lasted  for  three 
days.  In  leading  an  assault  McCulloch  was  killed,  and  General  Curtis 
at  last  beat  off  his  opponents.40  The  losses  in  killed  and  wounded,  on 
either  side,  amounted  to  about  1,000  men.41 

One  of  the  steam-frigates  named  the  Merrimac,  which  had  been 
sunk  in  Norfolk  Harbour,  was  raised,  repaired,  plated  with  iron, 
having  a  slanted  roof,  and  fitted  with  two  iron  beaks  at  the  stem.  This 
vessel  was  then  named  the  Virginia.  On  the  8th  of  March,  she 
came  out  from  the  Elizabeth  River  and  attacked  a  Federal  ship  in 
Hampton  Roads,  at  the  mouth  of  the  J  amcs  River.  The  heaviest  guns 
brought  to  bear  on  her  were  found  to  have  no  great  effect,  when  shot  and 
shell  reached  her  iron-plated  roof  and  sides.  She  sank  the  sloop-of-war 
Cumberland,  by  a  stroke  of  her  armoured  ram  ;  and  soon  after,  she 
drove  the  frigate  Congress  ashore  and  burned  her.42  At  night  she 
returned  to  Norfolk  harbour.  Meanwhile,  during  the  darkness  arrived  a 
small  iron -clad  vessel  called  the  Monitor,43  having  a  hull  almost  entirely 
under  water,  with  a  revolving  shot-proof  turret  of  iron,  and  two  enor¬ 
mous  guns  inside.  This  newly  designed  iron-clad  was  commanded  by 
Lieutenant  Worden.44  The  very  next  day,  the  Merrimac  appeared 
once  more  to  encounter  the  Federal  fleet.  In  a  subsequent  action,  which 
lasted  for  five  hours,  the  iron-clad  steamer  Monitor  assailed  and  then 
obliged  her  to  seek  refuge  in  Norfolk  harbour,  after  she  had  suffered 
considerable  damage.45 


38  Born  in  Tennessee,  November 
11th  1811  he  fought  in  Texas  1836,  and 
afterwards  in  the  Mexican  War.  See 
ibid.,  Vol.  iv.,  pp.  97,  98. 

39  Born  in  Florida  in  1828.  He 
entered  the  U  S  army,  but  resigned 
his  commission  in  1860,  and  after¬ 
wards  became  brigadier-General  in  the 
Confederate  service.  See  ibid.,  Vol. 
iv.,  pp.  124,  125. 

40  See  M.  le  Comte  de  Paris,  “  His- 
toire  de  la  Guerre  Civile  en  Ameri- 
que,”  Tome  ii.,  chap,  i.,  pp.  336  to 
356. 

41  See  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fletcher’s 
“History  of  the  American  War  from 
1861  to  1865,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xiii  , 
pp.  299  to  306.  However,  a  more 
detailed  account  is  to  be  found  in  the 


following  statement: — “The  Union 
loss  was  203  killed,  980  wounded  and 
201  captured  or  missing ;  while  the 
Confederate  loss,  not  so  accurately 
ascertained,  was  estimated  to  be 
between  1,000  and  1,300.” — “  Abraham 
Lincoln,  a  History,”  Vol.  v.,  chap, 
xvii.,  p.  292. 

42  See  Frank  Moore’s  “  Rebellion 
Record,”  p.  269. 

43  Captain  John  Ericsson  was  the 
designer  of  this  vessel.  See  an  ac¬ 
count  of  this  celebrated  Swedish  en¬ 
gineer  and  inventor,  in  the  “  Encyclo- 
ptedia  Americana,”  Vol.  ii.,  pp.  810, 
811. 

44  See  ibid. ,  Vol.  vi.,  p.  614. 

45  See,“  Histoire  de  la  Guerre  Civile 
on  Amerique,”  par  M.  le  Comte  de 


Naval-Battle  in  Hampton  Roads. 


The  Shenandoah  Vaj.lky. 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  AN  ADVANCE  AGAINST  RICHMOND. 


395 


Nearly  two  hundred  miles  higher  up  the  Mississippi  than  Memphis, 
and  not  far  above  New  Madrid  in  Missouri,  the  Confederates  had 
taken  possession  of  an  Island  denominated  No.  10,  and  which  lies  in 
a  curve  of  the  Mississippi  ltiver.  So  soon  as  the  evacuation  of  Columbus 
had  been  resolved  on,  all  available  rebel  resources  and  skill  were  here 
concentrated.  Meanwhile,  earthworks  had  been  thrown  up  around 
New  Madrid  by  the  Confederates,  who  had  placed  a  garrison  there, 
guarded  by  a  fleet  of  eight  gunboats  on  the  river  and  under  command  of 
Commodore  George  N.  Hollis.46  On  Island  No.  10  they  had  erected 
formidable  batteries,  for  the  purpose  of  commanding  the  navigation ; 
while  these  were  supported  from  the  Confederate  headquarters, 
stationed  on  the  Tennessee  shore.  To  General  John  Pope47  had  been 
assigned  command  of  an  expedition  to  remove  those  obstacles ;  and 
accordingly,  at  the  head  of  20,000  troops,  he  appeared  before  New 
Madrid  on  the  3rd  of  March.  Having  surrounded  the  place  with 
siege-works,  he  sent  detachments  to  Point  Pleasant  on  the  river  about 
nine  miles  below,  to  cut  off  the  enemies’  reinforcements  and  supplies. 
Ten  days  later  the  rebels  evacuated  New  Madrid  leaving  everything 
behind  them.  The  Confederate  retreat  from  Island  No.  10  was  soon 
rendered  difficult  as  Pope’s  forces  held  the  Missouri  shore,  and  he 
called  upon  Flag-officer  Foote  to  bring  his  fleet  of  nine  gunboats  to 
co-operate  in  an  intended  attack.  The  latter  objected,  however,  that 
the  risk  and  difficulty  should  be  too  great  with  his  insufficient  arma¬ 
ment.  A  most  ingenious  expedient  was  now  devised.48  To  capture  that 
island,  the  army  of  General  Pope  selected  a  bayou,  running  irregularly 
above  it  from  the  Mississippi  and  on  to  the  west  bank  below  it ;  then 
with  incredible  labour  and  skill  the  troops  cut  a  canal  across  the  marshy 
peninsula,  which  was  formed  by  the  river  bend.59  Through  this  canal 
twelve  miles  in  length,  several  boats  and  barges  passed.  These  were 
followed  by  other  boats  carrying  a  large  body  of  troops,  with  guns  and 
mortars,  for  the  purpose  of  besieging  the  island.  Meanwhile,  the  pas¬ 
sage  for  boats  having  been  found  practicable  from  above  and  below  on 
the  river,  two  gunboats  were  necessary  to  protect  the  transports  in 
crossing  troops  from  the  Missouri  side.50  This  operation  was  successfully 
accomplished  by  the  gunboats  Carondelet  and  Pittsburg.  Pope  next 
embarked  his  troops  on  the  boats,  to  intercept  retreat  from  the  island, 
on  the  7  th  of  April.51  After  a  prolonged  defence,  its  commander  had 


Paris,  Tome  ii. ,  Liv.  ii.,  chap,  iv., 
pp.  515  to  521. 

46  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  iii.,  p. 
237. 

47  See  the  “  Encyclopaedia  Ameri¬ 
cana,”  Vol.  iv.,  p.  227. 

48  To  Colonel  J.  W.  Bissell  of  the 
Engineer  Regiment  is  mainly  due  the 
conception  and  execution  of  those 
works  afterwards  undertaken,  and 
which  he  describes  in  his  “  Battles 


and  Leaders  of  the  Civil  War,”  Vol. 
i.,  p.  461. 

49  The  various  positions  are  shown 
on  a  Map  of  Military  Operations 
about  Island  No.  10,  in  “  Abraham 
Lincoln:  a  History,”  Vol.  v.,  chap, 
xvii.,  p.  304. 

50  See  Dr.  John  William  Draper’s 
“  History  of  the  American  Civil 
War,”  Vol.  ii.  sect,  x.,  chap,  xlix., 
pp.  274  to  278. 

51  See  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fletcher’s 


396 


IRISH -AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


already  yielded  to  Commodore  Foote.  On  that  and  on  the  following 
day,  General  Pope  received  the  surrender  of  three  general  officers  and 
of  six  or  seven  thousand  Confederate  troops.52 

Meantime  in  the  East,  a  vast  army  had  been  assembled  and  organ¬ 
ized  for  an  advance  against  Richmond,  under  the  command  of  General 
McClellan.  The  public  began  to  complain  of  its  inaction  in  face  of  the 
enemy,  when  the  President  and  Government  suggested  the  necessity 
for  its  opening  the  campaign.  But  the  commander  of  the  Federal 
troops  hesitated  to  adopt  plans  proposed  for  a  forward  movement,  and 
greatly  exaggerated  the  number  of  forces  opposed  to  him.53  He  now 
advised  an  expedition,  which  was  to  land  on  that  peninsula  between 
the  James  and  York  Rivers  Va.,  while  a  defensive  force  should  be 
left  to  cover  Washington.  A  majority  of  his  generals  in  a  Council  of 
War  also  approved  of  his  plan.  With  great  reluctance  the  President 
and  the  leading  men  of  his  Government  yielded  consent,  as  they  did  not 
consider  such  a  movement  to  be  well  designed,  or  to  be  the  best  that 
might  be  made ;  but  they  did  not  desire  to  assume  responsibility  by 
forcing  their  views  on  a  general  of  established  reputation,  and  one  so 
popular  among  his  soldiers.54  At  length,  bringing  his  army  into  the  proper 
condition  and  after  very  considerable  delay,  General  McClellan — 
having  sent  General  Nathaniel  Prentiss  Banks55  before  him  to  occupy  the 
Shenandoah  valley — advanced  from  Washington,  with  the  main  army.56 
The  Ordnance  Department,  and  especially  General  William  F.  Barry57 
the  chief  of  artillery,  had  laboured  with  great  energy  to  equip  ninety- 
two  batteries,  consisting  of  320  guns,  52,500  men,  and  11,000  horses,  to 
take  the  field  in  March.  The  artillery  was  assigned  to  divisions  and 
not  to  brigades.  The  manufacture  and  purchase  of  arms  had  been 
effected, and  a  grand  aggregate  force  of  over  220,000  men  was  nominally 
under  McClellan’s  command ;  although  the  executive  in  Washington 
often  interfered  regarding  their  distribution,  nor  did  it  always  wholly 
approve  of  the  General’s  plans  and  operations.  Especially  was  it  feared 
that  the  Capital  might  be  left  exposed  to  a  sudden  advance  of  the  Con¬ 
federates  in  force,  and  by  a  direct  route,  while  the  great  body  of  the 
Federal  troops  was  far  removed  from  its  support. 


“  History  of  the  American  War  from 
1861  to  1865,”  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xv., 
pp.  351  to  363. 

52  See  “  Abraham  Lincoln  :  a  His¬ 
tory,”  Vol.  v.,  chap,  xvii.,  pp.  296 
to  299.  Also,  Alfred  Roman’s  “  Mili* 
tary  Operations  of  General  Beaure¬ 
gard,”  &c.,  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xxiii.,  pp. 
355  to  361. 

53  See  the  “  Encyclopaedia  Ameri¬ 
cana,”  Vol.  iii.,  p.  650. 

54  See  “  Abraham  Lincoln  :  a  His¬ 
tory,”  Vol.  v.,  chap,  ix.,  pp.  148  to 
172. 

55  Born  in  Waltham  Mass.,  January 
30th  1816  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclo¬ 


paedia  of  American  Biography,”  Vol. 
i.,  pp.  158,  159. 

56  Regarding  these  particulars,  the 
reader  is  referred  to  General  McClel¬ 
lan’s  “  Report  on  the  Organisation 
and  Campaign  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,”  p.  46. 

57  He  was  born  in  New  York  City, 
August  18th  1818,  and  he  served  in  the 
Mexican  War.  In  conjunction  with 
General  Barnard,  he  wrote  “  Reports 
of  the  Engineer  and  Artillery  Opera¬ 
tions  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
from  its  Organization  to  the  close  of 
the  Peninsular  Campagn,”  New  York, 
1863. 


THE  SHENANDOAH  VALLEY. 


397 

Meanwhile,  General  Joseph  E.  Johnson  had  been  placed  in  command 
of  the  Confederate  consolidated  forces,  designated  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac ;  and  he  held  the  position  at  Manassas  J  unction,  until  the 
spring  of  1862.  Then  finding  McClellan  about  to  advance,  he  -withdrew 
to  the  more  defensive  line  of  tine  Rappahannock.  Such  a  movement  was 
deemed  necessary,  as  the  objective  aim  of  the  Fcderals  was  known 
to  be  Richmond ;  and  for  its  defence,  all  the  available  troops  of  the 
South  were  requisite  within  supporting  distances.  On  the  10th  of 
March  and  as  an  overture,  McClellan  proceeded  to  attack  the  Con¬ 
federates  in  their  position  at  Manassas.  On  arriving  there,  however, 
he  found  that  it  had  been  deserted.  On  the  13th  of  March,  General 
Robert  E.  Lee,58  who  had  already  served  in  Western  Virginia,  was 
charged  with  the  conduct  of  military  operations  in  the  Army  of  the 
Confederacy,  and  especially  in  preparing  for  the  defence  of  Richmond.59 

While  stationed  at  Manassas,  the  Confederates  occupied  Winchester 
with  General  Stonewall  Jackson’s  division,  and  frequent  reconnaissances 
had  been  pushed  forward  towards  the  Federal  lines  on  the  Upper 
Potomac.  When  he  retired  from  that  position,  General  Banks  took 
possession  of  Winchester  on  March  12th.  Having  cleared  the  Shenan¬ 
doah  Valley  of  the  enemy  as  he  thought,  the  Federal  General  left  the 
division  of  General  Shields  there  to  guard  it.  He  then  set  out  with  his 
own  corps,  to  join  the  army  under  McClellan.  Afterwards,  General 
Shields  advanced  so  far  as  Strasburg;  but  finding  General  Jackson 
occupying  a  strong  position  in  that  neighbourhood,  he  retired  to 
Winchester  on  the  20th. 

Meanwhile,  learning  that  a  large  force  had  been  removed  from  the 
Valley,  the  Confederate  General  Jackson  planned  a  surprise,  and  he 
hastened  with  a  division  to  attack  General  Shields.  About  three  and  a 
half  miles  from  Winchester,  and  on  the  Strasburg  road,  a  position  to 
cover  it  was  selected  for  Colonel  Kimball’s  brigade,60  as  Jackson  ad¬ 
vanced  on  the  23rd.  During  those  preparatory  movements,  General 
Shields  was  severely  wounded.61  Then  Colonel  Sullivan62  was  pushed 
forward  with  his  brigade  on  the  left  of  Kimball,  while  Colonel  Tyler’s 
brigade  was  held  in  reserve.63  The  latter  was  ordered  up  to  open  the 
attack,  and  after  an  obstinate  resistance,  Johnson’s  left  was  driven 


58  This  celebrated  leader  was  son  of 
the  Revolutionary  General  Henry  Lee, 
known  as  “  Light-Horse  Harry,”  and 
he  was  born  in  Stratford,  Westmore¬ 
land  County  Va.,  January  19  th 
1807.  He  graduated  at  Westpoint  in 
1829,  and  he  had  already  served  with 
great  distinction  in  the  Mexican  War. 
He  became  Colonel  in  the  United 
States  Army.  He  resigned  that  com¬ 
mission  on  the  20th  of  April  1861. 
During  the  following  May,  he  was 
appointed  General  in  the  Confederate 
Army.  See  E.  Lee  ChildeSs  “  Life 


and  Campaigns  of  Robert  E.  Lee,” 
London,  1875. 

69  See  Edward  Albert  Pollard’s  “  Lee 
and  his  Lieutenants,”  1867,  8vo. 

80  Nathyn  Kimball  was  born  In 
Indiana,  and  he  commanded  the  infantry 
raised  in  that  State. 

61  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,’*  Vol.  v.,  p. 
509. 

62  Jeremiah  C.  Sullivan  was  born 
in  Madison  Ind.,  October  1st  1830. 
See  ibid.,  p.  740. 

63  See  ibid.,  Vol.  iv.,  p,  193. 


398  IRISH-AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

back.  The  other  brigades  then  advanced,  when  the  Confederates  to  the 
number  of  6,000  64  retreated,  leaving  two  pieces  of  artillery,  four  cais¬ 
sons  and  about  300  prisoners,  in  the  hands  of  the  Federals.  This 
desperate  and  well-fought  battle  took  place  at  Kearnstown,  near  Win¬ 
chester.  When  Jackson  was  thus  driven  from  the  field,  collecting  all 
his  disposable  forces,  General  Shields  pursued  him  so  far  south  as 
Harrisonburg.  Soon  afterwards,  General  Banks  returned  to  occupy  the 
valley  with  an  augmented  force,  and  Shields  was  then  ordered  to  rein¬ 
force  McDowell  stationed  at  Fredericksburg.  It  was  believed  at 
Washington  that  the  Confederates  were  still  in  great  force,  and  capable 
of  being  considerably  reinforced  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley;  while  the 
President  and  his  Cabinet  feared  their  advance,  and  resolved  to  with¬ 
draw  10,000  more  of  his  troops  from  General  McClellan,  in  order  to 
strengthen  the  defences  around  the  capital.  In  the  meantime,  Major- 
General  M‘ Dowell65  with  a  force  of  30,000  men  advanced  towards  Rich¬ 
mond,  by  the  direct  line  through  Fredericksburg  on  the  Rappahannock 
River.  That  town  was  evacuated  by  the  Confederates  on  the  17  th 
of  April,  and  on  the  19th  it  was  surrendered  to  Brigadier-General 
Augur.66 

General  McClellan  now  thought  to  adopt  a  new  mode  of  operation. 
Between  Washington  and  Manassas,  he  had  concentrated  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac ;  thus  hoping  to  deceive  the  enemy,  who  should  regard  it 
as  designed  to  march  against  Richmond  by  the  most  direct  route,  and 
as  threatening  the  reduction  of  Virginia.  But,  his  intention  was  to 
advance  gradually  and  in  a  far  different  manner  towards  Richmond.  A 
number  of  ships  and  boats  had  been  collected,  for  the  transport  of  his  men 
to  Fortress  Monroe.  When  sufficiently  near,  he  intended  to  march  up 
the  peninsula  between  the  James  and  York  Rivers  ;  while  a  number  of 
gunboats  were  to  force  their  way  up  the  James  River,  and  to  co-operate 
with  the  army  in  assaulting  that  city.  If  properly  carried  out  and  with 
the  sufficient  force  assigned  to  him,  such  a  plan  should  probably  have 
been  successful.  He  intended  to  leave  about  30,000  men  behind  to  cover 
Washington,  and  he  assembled  about  80,000  men  well  equipped,  with  a 
formidable  battering  train,  at  the  lower  end  of  the  peninsula,  between 
the  York  River  and  James  River,  under  protection  of  the  guns  in  Fortress 


64  See  Edward  A.  Pollard’s  “  Sou¬ 
thern  History  of  the  War.”  First 
Year  of  the  War.  This  work,  writ¬ 
ten  in  conjunction  with  B.  M.  De 
Witt,  was  published  in  Richmond, 
1862.  It  was  followed  by  The  Second 
Year  of  the  War,  published  in  1864, 
as  also  by  the  Third  Year  of  the 
War,  issued  in  the  same  year.  A 
fourth  volume  on  the  same  subject 
was  published  in  New  York, 
1866.  This  work  was  republished  in 
London.  The  same  writer  issued 


“  The  Life  of  Jefferson  Davis,  with 
the  Secret  History  of  the  Southern 
Confederacy,”  in  1869. 

65  In  March,  he  had  been  made 
Major-General  of  the  Volunteers. 

66  Christopher  Colon  Augur  was 
born  in  New  York,  in  1821.  He  had 
already  served  in  the  Mexican  War, 
and  afterwards  against  the  Indians 
of  Oregon,  in  1856.  See  Appleton’s 
*•  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Biograp- 
phy,”  Vol.  i.,  p.  119. 


A  NEW  PLAN  OF  OPERATIONS. 


399 


Monroe.  There  he  arrived  on  the  2nd  April,  to  begin  the  campaign 
against  Richmond,  and  on  that  route  chosen  by  himself.67 

At  this  time,  General  Jackson,  commanding  his  own  division  and 
that  of  General  Richard  S.  Ewell 68  with  the  cavalry  force  of  Colonel 
Turner  Ashby,69  was  opposed  to  Generals  Fremont  and  Banks,  having 
an  army  inferior  in  numbers.  Then  Major-General  Banks  was  moving 
up  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  with  a  force  of  4,000  or  5,000  men 
chiefly  for  the  purpose  of  observation,  and  thinking  also  that  Jackson 
was  retiring  before  him.  Since  the  withdrawal  of  General  Shields’ 
division,  Banks  had  only  Williams’  troops  under  his  immediate  com¬ 
mand.  He  left  Colonel  John  R.  Kenly  70  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Front  Royal  to  guard  Manassas  Gap,  an  opening  in  the  Blue  Ridge 
Mountains.  Between  Colonel  Kenly’s  force  and  Strasburg,  there  is  a 
line  of  hills  known  as  the  Massanutten  Mountains,  and  dividing  the 
two  forks  of  the  Shenandoah  River,  which  runs  from  south  to  north, 
and  which  joins  the  Potomac  River  at  Harper’s  Ferry,  71  Banks  had 
already  marched  beyond  Strasburg,  when  two  divisions  of  Confederates, 
effectually  screened  by  the  nature  of  the  ground,  and  under  Generals 
Ewell  and  Jackson,  moved  down  the  Shenandoah  south  fork.  Then 
they  seized  Front  Royal,  and  attacked  Colonel  Kenly  who  was 
severely  wounded,  and  many  of  his  troops  were  killed.  Nearly  all  the 
rest  were  either  wounded  or  captured.  Having  heard  of  this  move¬ 
ment,  Banks  endeavoured  by  a  forced  march  to  retreat  upon  Winches¬ 
ter,  where  his  stores  were  collected.  However,  this  surprise  cut  off  his 
communication  with  General  McDowell ;  and  now,  ordering  his  baggage 
trains  to  Winchester,  he  covered  the  rear  force  with  the  greater  portion 
of  his  troops.  Having  been  molested  by  the  enemy’s  pickets  near 
Cedar  Run,  that  town  was  reached,  but  in  much  confusion,  on  the 
evening  of  May  24th.  When  Banks  arrived  there,  full  confirmation  of 
the  total  defeat  of  Kenly’s  force  was  received,  and  that  the  Confederates 
were  fast  approaching  in  great  numbers.  Whereupon  a  retreat  was 
ordered,  early  on  the  morning  of  the  25th.  Nevertheless,  Banks  took 
up  a  position  to  offer  battle.  There  a  contest  took  place,  and  it  lasted 
for  three  hours  on  that  day.  The  Confederates  then  drove  General 
Banks  with  great  loss  through  Winchester  on  to  Martinsburg.  Many  of 
his  men  were  taken  prisoners.  Nevertheless,  the  boats  of  the  pontoon 
train  having  been  saved,  during  the  night  of  the  25th  and  on  the  morn¬ 
ing  of  the  26th,  his  army  crossed  the  Potomac  closely  pursued  by  the 
enemy’s  cavalry,  yet  without  his  sustaining  any  great  molestation.72 

67  See  “  Abraham  Lincoln,  a  His¬ 
tory,”  Vol.  v.,  chap,  xx.,  p.  358. 

68  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  ii.,  p. 

392. 

69  See  ibid.,  Vol.  i.,  p.  110. 

70  See  ibid.,  Vol.  iii.,  p.  515. 

11  These  positions  are  very  clearly 


marked,  on  a  Sketch  Map  of  General 
Jackson’s  Campaign  of  the  Shenan¬ 
doah  Valley,  in  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Fletcher’s  “  History  of  the  American 
War  from  1861  to  1865,”  Vol.  ii., 
chap,  i.,  p.  6. 

72  His  official  Report  states  the  en¬ 
tire  loss  at  38  killed,  157  wounded, 
and  711  missing. 


400 


IRISII-AHERICAN  HISTORY  OJ)’  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


mm. 


During  the  year  preceding,  the  President  had  decreed  the  creation 
of  a  new  military  district  known  as  the  Department  of  the  Mountain, 
and  over  it  he  had  placed  as  chief  the  commander,  whom  he  had  with¬ 
drawn  from  the  Missouri.73  About  this  time,  General  Fremont,  who 
had  been  stationed  at  Franklin  in  the  mountains  of  Western  Virginia, 
was  advancing  with  an  army  from  the  West,  and  he  purposed  joining 
General  Banks  near  Staunton.  However,  Jackson  resolved  on  prevent¬ 
ing  such  a  junction,  and  having  a  superior  force  under  his  command, 
that  general  succeeded  in  getting  to  the  rear  of  the  main  body. 
Fremont  had  three  divisions  under  his  command.  With  these  he 
advanced  on  the  26th  of  May  to  Petersburg,  hoping  to  intercept 
General  Jackson  who  now  retreated  on  Strasburg.  He  had  a  long 
train,  conveying  the  spoils  of  Banks’  army  with  about  2,000  prisoners, 
and  he  marched  rapidly  forward  on  Woodstock  and  to  Mount  Jackson.74 

Having  entered  the  Shenandoah  Valley  with  his  forces  in  pursuit, 
General  Fremont  reached  Harrisonburg  on  the  6th  of  June.  Then 
marching  beyond  that  town,  the  Federal  advance  was  drawn  into  an 
ambuscade,  and  it  suffered  severely.  In  this  encounter  nevertheless 
the  Confederate  Brigadier-General  Furner  Ashby  was  killed  while 
leading  on  his  men.  Meantime,  General  Shields  had  been  advanc¬ 
ing  up  the  southern  branch  of  the  Shenandoah,  with  a  view  of 
cutting  off  Jackson’s  retreat  through  the  passes  of  the  Blue  Ridge 
Mountains.  Anticipating  this  advance,  on  the  8th  of  June  and 
leaving  Ewell  in  a  strong  position,  about  eight  miles  from 
Harrisonburg,  to  keep  the  Federals  in  check,  General  Jackson  took 
post  himself  near  Port  Republic,  while  his  long  baggage  train  was 
crossing  a  bridge  near  that  place.  The  advanced  guard  of  Fremont 
was  opposed  and  forced  to  retreat.  At  the  hamlet  of  Cross  Keys  Ewell 
firmly  held  his  ground,  and  the  Federals  lost  664  men  in  that  battle. 
Meanwhile,  the  advanced  brigade  of  Shields’  Division  commanded  by 
Colonel  Samuel  S.  Carroll75  had  come  up,  and  it  engaged  in  an  artillery 
skirmish  with  Jackson’s  division;  but  the  main  body  of  Shields’ force 
was  still  in  the  rear.  On  the  morning  of  the  9th,  Ewell’s  forces  were 
withdrawn  to  operate  against  General  Tyler,  who  had  arrived  on  the 
evening  previous  to  support  Colonel  Carroll.  His  troops  were  drawn 
up  on  the  main  road,  and  in  an  open  plain.  There  he  was  attacked, 
and  as  his  artillery  rested  on  some  wooded  hills  towards  the  left  of  that 
position,  General  Jackson  sent  a  detachment  round,  while  he  occupied 
Tyler’s  attention  by  demonstrations  in  the  plain.  Then  making  a 
sudden  charge,  the  greater  proportion  of  the  Federal  artillery  was 
captured,  and  their  lines  were  broken.  The  Confederate  cavalry  pur¬ 
sued,  and  the  rout  was  complete ;  nor  could  Fremont  repair  a  bridge, 


,sSee  M.  Le  Comte  de  Paris,  “His- 
toire  de  la  Guerre  Civile  en  Ameri- 
que,”  Tome  ii.,  Liv.  ii.,  chap,  iv., 
p.  557. 

74  See  Jefferson  Davis’  “  Rise  and 


Fall  of  the  Confederate  Government,” 
Vol.  ii.,  chap,  xxi.,  pp.  109  to  111. 

75  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  i.  p. 
539. 


THE  CONFEDERATE  CONSCRIPT  ACT. 


401 


in  order  to  cross  a  deep  river  which  lay  between  both  bodies  of  his 
troops.  Afterwards,  General  Jackson  withdrew  leisurely  through 
Brown’s  Gap  in  the  Blue  Ridge  Mountains  to  Gordonsville,  where  lie 
had  direct  railway  communication  to  Richmond.  Hearing  that  he  was 
about  to  receive  reinforcements,  General  Fremont  ordered  a  retreat 
down  the  valley,  having  first  sent  a  detachment  of  cavalry  to  apprise 
Shields  about  the  reverses  he  had  experienced.76  This  raid  was  designed 
to  check  the  advance  of  General  McDowell  from  sending  any  reinforce 
merits  to  aid  General  McClellan  in  his  operations  against  Richmond,  and 
it  proved  to  be  effective  for  that  purpose.  His  command  had  been  de¬ 
tached  from  the  main  body  of  troops,  and  it  was  then  designated  the 
Army  of  the  Rappahannock.  Having  been  reinforced,  Banks  soon  re- 
crossed  the  Potomac  to  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  He  only  arrived  there 
however,  when  Ewell  and  Jackson  had  retreated.77 

On  the  5th  of  April,  General  McClellan’s  army  was  in  front  of  the 
Yorktown  defences;  but,  before  he  would  attempt  an  assault  reinforce¬ 
ments  were  expected.  Heintzelman’s  corps  encamped  in  front  of  York¬ 
town,  supported  bv  Sedgwick’s  division  of  Sumner’s  corps  on  the 
Warwick  road,  while  Keyes’  corps  was  on  the  left,  facing  Lee’s  Mills 
on  the  west  bank  of  Warwick.78  However,  the  Confederates  held 
suspicions,  and  even  had  fully  divined  the  true  points  of  movement, 
regarding  General  McClellan’s  plan  of  operations.  Having  placed  their 
army  under  the  chief  command  of  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  they 
accordingly  made  judicious  arrangements  to  resist  that  approach.  They 
held  Yorktown,  while  drawing  a  linecf  entrenchments  across  the  penin¬ 
sula,79  and  these  were  defended  by  about  12,000  men  commanded  by 
General  John  B.  Magruder.80 

On  the  4th  of  April,  General  McClellan  had  landed  less  than 
100,000  men  on  the  peninsula  near  Yorktown  ;  but  his  plan  was  greatly 
disarranged  by  the  withdrawal  of  McDowell’s  troops  and  those  of 
General  Wool,  who  commanded  at  Fortress  Monroe.  Moreover,  he  had 
been  promised  the  co-operation  of  the  navy,  in  his  projected  attack  on 
the  batteries  of  Yorktown  and  Gloucester ;  and  soon  every  possible 
effort  was  made  to  give  assistance  to  the  land  forces.  However,  when 
the  fleet  moved  up  the  James  River  with  several  ironclads,  the  marines 
and  sailors  were  killed  in  great  numbers  by  swarms  of  sharpshooters, 
who  lined  either  bank  on  towards  Drury’s  Bluff.  Nor  were  the  Federals 
anle  to  make  any  sensible  impression  on  those  batteries  opposed  to 
them.  The  shi[js  were  afterwards  obliged  to  fall  back  towards  Fortress 


76  See  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fletcher’s 
“History  of  the  American  War  irom 
1861  to  1865,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  iv., 
pp.  61  to  70. 

77  See  Jeffrson  Davis’  “Rise  and 
Fall  of  the  Confederate  Government,” 
Vol.  ii.,  chap,  xxi.,  pp.  Ill  to  119. 

78  See  Captain  D.  P.  Convnghain’s 
“Irish  Brigade  and  its  Campaigns,” 
&o.,  chap,  vi.,  p.  62. 


79  For  a  very  clear  understanding 
of  the  military  position  and  move¬ 
ments,  the  reader  may  consult  a  map 
of  the  Peninsular  Campaign,  in  “  Ab¬ 
raham  Lincoln,  a  History,”  Vol.  v. , 
chap,  xx.,  p.  368. 

80  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  iv.,  p 
175. 

2  D 


402 


IRISH-AM  ERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Monroe.  So  early  as  April  1SG2,  the  Confederate  Congress  had  passed 
a  Conscription  Act.  In  the  South,  a  reign  of  military  despotism  pre¬ 
vailed,  which  made  a  soldier  of  every  man  and  boy  who  was  capable  of 
bearing  arms.  Those  who  were  exempt  through  age  or  other  causes 
acted  as  provosts,  for  collecting  deserters  and  returning  them  to  the 
ranks.  This  state  of  conscription  enabled  the  Southerners  to  bring 
almost  their  entire  adult  male  population  into  the  field. 

Meantime  the  important  victories  gained  in  the  West  permitted 
General  Grant  to  move  up  the  Tennessee  River.  He  encamped  near 
a  place  called  Shiloh  or  Pittsburg  Landing.  There  he  expected  General 
Buell  to  unite  with  him  for  an  attack  on  Corinth.  After  leaving 
Manassas  on  the  2nd  of  February  to  assume  command,81  General 
Beauregard  proceeded  to  the  West,  and  there  he  occupied  a  position. 
That  small  place,  about  one  hundred  miles  east  from  Memphis,  he 
immediately  set  about  fortifying.  There  too,  the  army  of  General 
Albert  Sydney  Johnston  was  moved,  and  a  junction  had  been  formed 
by  both  of  the  Confederate  leaders  by  the  23rd  of  March.  Their  united 
forces  amounted  to  over  40,000  men.82  On  both  sides,  the  arrival  of 
reinforcements  had  been  expected ;  but,  having  heard  that  Buell  was 
advancing  on  Savannah,  while  Van  Dorn  had  not  yet  arrived  to  their 
aid  from  Arkansas,  the  Confederate  leaders  resolved  to  precipitate  an 
engagement,  trusting  to  the  strength  of  their  assembled  army.83 

With  less  than  40,000  of  the  United  States  forces,  General  Grant 
occupied  a  post  about  twenty  miles  north  from  Corinth.  Nevertheless, 
all  of  these  were  not  concentrated.  Another  portion  of  his  army  was 
stationed  at  Savannah,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Tennessee,  and  a  few 
miles  lower  down.  Thinking  to  surprise  him,  General  Beauregard 
advanced  secretly  with  his  army  from  Corinth.84  The  Confederates 
were  much  more  numerous,  and  in  full  force  at  that  time.  Accordingly, 
General  Albert  Sidney  Johnston  suddenly  attacked  General  Grant’s 
army  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  on  the  morning  of  Sunday  April  6th.85 
Advancing  rapidly  and  unitedly,  these  leaders  at  first  stormed  the  camp, 
and  cutting  off  a  detachment  of  2,200  men  took  General  Prentiss 86 
prisoner.  Here  a  desperate  battle  was  fought,  and  it  lasted  the  entire 
day.  To  General  Beauregard  had  been  entrusted  the  main  direction  of 
opening  the  battle  by  his  superior,  who  took  upon  himself  the  task  of 
bringing  up  supports.  General  Hardee’s  corps,  in  which  General  Patrick 
Roynane  Cleburne87  commanded  a  brigade  chieiiy  composed  of 


81  See  Alfred  Roman’s  Military 
Operations  of  General  Beauregard,” 
Vol.  i.,  chap,  xv.,  p.  213.. 

82  See  the  “  Encyclopaedia  Ameri¬ 
cana,”  Vol.  iv.,  p.  498. 

83  See  M  le  Comte  de  Paris,  “  His- 
toire  de  la  Guerre  Civile  en  Ameri- 
que,”  Tome  ii.,  Liv.  ii.,  chap,  ii., 
pp.  396,  397. 

04  See  Alfred  Roman’s  “  Military 
Operations  of  General  Beauregard,” 


&c.,  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xix.,  pp.  265  to 

282. 

85  See  ibid.,  chap,  xx.,  pp  283  to 
307. 

86  Benjamin  Mayberry  Prentiss  was 
born  in  Belleville  Va.,  November 
23rd  1819.  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclo¬ 
paedia  of  American  Biography,”  Vol. 
v.,  p.  106 

87  He  was  born  in  the  County  of 
Cork  Ireland,  March  17th  1828,  and 


Few  Mac/rvd  ^ 


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ALABAMA 


GEORGIA  5*5 


Battle-Field  at  Pittsburg  Landing. 


/  LAME 
PONTCHARTRA  IN 


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FtJackso 


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GULF  OF 
MEXICO 


V,S5ISSir 


Opening  of  the  Mississippi  River 


EXPEDITION  AGAINST  NEW  ORLEANS.  403 


Tennesseeans,  was  in  the  front  firing  line.  While  personally  leading 
the  charge  of  a  brigade  between  two  and  three  o’clock,  General  Johnston 
was  killed,  but  this  loss  was  carefully  kept  from  a  knowledge  of  the 
Confederate  forces.  These  had  hoped  by  various  desperate  efforts  to 
assail  that  strong  position  near  Pittsburg  Landing.88  With  determined 
courage,  however,  the  Federal  troops  stood  the  shock  of  the  Confederates. 
At  length,  these  were  forced  back  to  the  very  brink  of  the  river.  On 
this  occasion,  General  William  Tecumseh  Sherman  commanded  a  division 
under  General  Grant,  and  with  great  resolution  he  maintained  the  Federal 
position.  Towards  evening,  Beauregard  despaired  of  breaking  their 
lines,  and  gave  directions  for  a  bivouac  in  their  front,  hoping  that  he 
should  be  able  to  renew  and  win  that  battle  the  following  morning.89 

During  the  night,  however,  General  Grant  was  joined  by  the  other 
portion  of  his  army.  General  Buell  had  also  arrived  with  a  fresh  army 
from  Nashville.90  On  the  morning  of  the  7th,  Grant  ordered  an 
advance  on  the  Confederate  lines,  and  he  renewed  the  attack.91  The 
opposing  armies  are  said  to  have  numbered  about  70,000  men  on  either 
side.  For  several  hours,  that  battle  lasted ;  but  at  length,  the  Con¬ 
federates  were  obliged  to  yield  the  ground. 92  The  Federal s  were 
assisted  by  two  gunboats,  which  threw  shells  among  the  Confederate 
troops.  The  result  was  a  failure  of  General  Beauregard’s  attempt. 
After  these  two  days’  fighting,  the  losses  on  both  sides  were  enormous ; 
those  of  the  Federals  being  estimated  at  13,047  men,  while  those  of  the 
Confederates  amounted  to  10,607.  During  the  following  day,  Beaure- 


he  became  a  student  of  medicine  in 
Trinity  College  Dublin.  But  he  ran 
away  and  enlisted  as  a  private  soldier 
in  the  English  army,  and  when  his 
connection  with  it  ceased,  he  came 
to  the  United  States,  About  the 
time  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  war 
he  was  a  practising  lawyer  in  Helena 
Arkansas.  He  assisted  in  raising  a 
regiment  of  Arkansas  troops  and 
became  its  colonel.  His  regiment 
united  with  the  Army  of  Tennessee, 
was  at  Bowling  Green  Ky.,  in 
General  Hardee’s  command,  under 
General  Albert  Sydney  Johnson,  and 
went  with  it  to  Shiloh.  He  was  from 
that  time  on  identified  with  the  Army 
of  Tennessee  in  all  its  campaigns  and 
battles.  He  was  subsequently  pro¬ 
moted  to  be  Major-General  in  Decem¬ 
ber  1862,  and  he  commanded  what 
was  known  as  Cleburne’s  Division. 
He  was  an  active  and  efficient  factor 
in  the  Army  of  Tennessee,  partici¬ 
pating  in  the  battle  of  Perryville,  of 
Mumfreesboro’  and  of  Cliickmanga. 
After  the  Confederate  defeat  at  Mis¬ 
sionary  Ridge,  he  was  distinguished 


for  his  defence  of  Ringgold  Gap.  At 
Jonesboro’  he  covered  the  retreat  of 
Hood’s  defeated  army;  Cleburne  was 
called  the  “Stonewall  of  the  West.”  In 
command  of  a  corps,  he  was  killed 
in  the  charge  on  the  Federal  breast¬ 
works  at  Franklin,  November  30th 
1864. 

88  “  See  Abraham  Lincoln,  a  His¬ 
tory,”  Vol.  v.,  chap,  xviii.,  pp.  303  to 
333.  To  this  is  affixed  a  very  in¬ 
telligible  diagram  of  the  topography 
and  position,  in  The  Official,  or 
Thom,  Map  of  the  Battle  of  Shiloh. 

89  See  M.  le  Comte  de  Paris,  “  His- 
toire  de  la  Guerre  Civile  en  Ameri- 
que,”  Tome  ii.,  Liv.  ii.,  chap,  ii., 
pp.  396  to  417. 

90  See  the  “  Encyclopaedia  Ameri¬ 
cana,”  Vol.  iv.,  p.  499. 

91  See  Alfred  Roman’s  “Military 
Operations  of  General  Beauregard,” 
&c.,  Vol.  i.,  chap,  xxi.,  pp.  308  to 
325. 

92  See  Dr.  John  William  Draper’s 
“  History  of  the  American  Civil 
War,”  Vol.  ii.,  sect,  x.,  chap,  i.,  pp. 
288  to  302. 


404  IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OP  THE  UNITFD  STATES. 


gard’s  army  directed  its  retreat  to  Corinth,  nor  was  an  immediate 
attempt  made  to  pursue.'13 

Towards  the  close  of  1861,  the  Federal  Government  had  resolved  to 
have  an  effective  blockade  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  ;  and  finally,  with  the 
approval  of  Commander  David  Dixon  Porter94  and  Captain  David 
Glasgow  Farragut,95  the  Navy  Department  planned  an  expedition  for 
the  capture  of  New  Orleans,  by  running  ships  past  two  very  strong  for¬ 
tifications  Forts  Philip  and  Jackson  nearly  opposite  each  other  on 
either  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  and  about  seventy-five  miles  below  the 
city.  A.  contingent  of  10,000  land  forces  was  designed  to-eo-operate,  and 
these  were  to  be  under  the  command  of  General  Benjamin  F.  Butler.99 
In  January  1862,  Farragut  was  appointed  chief  of  the  Western  Gulf 
Blockading  Squadron  ;  and  on  tho  3rd  of  February,  he  sailed  from 
Hampton  Roads.  The  fleet  of  Commodore  Farragut  consisted  of  over 
30  vessels,  carrying  altogether  about  300  guns,  besides  20  mortar-boats, 
under  tho  command  of  Captain  Porter.  The  ships  commissioned  were 
chiefly  wooden  vessels.  About  the  middle  of  April,  they  had  been 

concentrated  below  the  Forts,  where  it  was  found  the  river  was 
obstructed  by  dismasted  schooners  anchored  at  intervals,  and  connected 
by  strong  chains  with  log-rafts  attached.  Besides,  an  improvised  fleet 
of  sixteen  gun-boats  was  there,  and  these  were  armed  with  iron  prows. 
The  flotilla  of  Porter  opened  fire  on  Fort  Jackson — the  nearest  of  the 
forts — with  a  terrific  bombardment  of  shells.  On  the  night  of 
the  20th,  two  of  the  gun-boats  were  sent  to  cut  away  the  barrier 
of  hulks  and  rafts  stretched  across  the  river.  Those  vessels 
succeeded  in  making  an  opening  sufficient  for  the  passage  of 
ships.  On  the  24th  at  2  o’clock  a.m.,  dividing  his  fleet  into 
two  sections,  Farragut  gave  the  signal  to  advance,  while  Porter  renewed 
the  bombardment  to  its  utmost  rapidity.  The  column  of  the  Red  con¬ 
sisting  of  eight  ships,  commanded  by  Captain  Theodore  Bail  v, 97  sailed 
first,  following  the  east  bank  to  engage  Fort  St.  Philip,  and  delivering  a 


93  See  “  Abraham  Lincoln,  a  His¬ 
tory,”  Vol  v.,  chap,  xviii.,  pp.  333 
to  335. 

94  He  was  born  in  Philadelphia, 
June  8th  1814.  He  attained  to  great 
distinction  in  the  Mexican  War,  and 
among  many  other  works  he  has 
written  his  own  autobiography,  as 
also  a  “  History  of  the  Navy  in  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion,”  New  York, 
1887,  8vo. 

95  He  was  born  near  Knockville 
Tenn.,  July  5th  1801.  He  entered 
the  navy  at  an  early  age,  and  he  ser¬ 
ved  during  the  war  of  1813 -15,  and 
afterwards  against  the  Mexicans. 
His  son  Lovall  Farragut  issued  his 
life,  including  his  journals  and  many 
of  his  letters.  New  York,  1S7S,  8vo 


96  He  was  the  son  of  John  Butler, 
a  soldier  who  fought  under  General 
Jackson  at  New  Orleans,  and  he 
boasts  of  Irish  descent  in  that  ad¬ 
mirable  work  in  which  his  character 
and  career  are  so  ably  vindicated, 
“  Autobiography  and  Personal  Re¬ 
miniscences  of  Major-General  Ben¬ 
jamin  F.  Butler,”  with  the  sub-title 
“Butler’s  Book.”  See  chap,  i.,  Boston 
1892,  8vo.  General  Butler  zealously 
served  the  Union  during  the  Con¬ 
federate  Wars,  but  he  was  unjustly  dis¬ 
missed  from  command  by  General 
Grant. 

97  See  Appleton’s  “Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Yol.  i.,  pp. 
133,  139. 


CAPTURE  OF  MEMPHIS  BY  THE  FEDERALS. 


405 


destructive  broadside  of  grape  and  canister.  When  abreast  of  the  forts, 
the  ships  ran  above  their  line  of  fire.  There  they  encountered  the  rebel 
gun-boat  flotilla,  but  dispersed  or  captured  it  with  very  little  loss.  The 
column  of  the  Blue  under  Farragut  followed  and  passed  both  the  forts. 
The  combat  had  lasted  about  one  hour  and  a  half ;  while  the  total  loss 
to  the  Federal  fleet  was  only  twenty-four  men  killed,  and  eighty-six 
wounded.98  The  ships  and  gun-boats  having  passed  the  forts  anchored 
temporarily  at  quarantine  station,  about  six  miles  above  them.  Nor  was 
there  much  delay,  for  on  the  evening  of  that  same  day  steaming  up  the 
river,  New  Orleans  lay  exposed  to  a  fire  from  the  Federal  fleet.  The 
Confederate  General  Mansfield  Lovell  had  only  3,000  troops  for  its 
defence,  and  he  now  resolved  to  evacute  that  city,  having  first  removed 
such  arms  and  supplies  as  he  could  ;  the  remaining  war  material  and 
private  property  to  a  vast  amount  was  destroyed.99  When  Admiral 
Farragut  demanded  surrender  of  New  Orleans,  the  Mayor  returned  an 
equivocal  answer ;  but.  after  a  few  days’  hesitation,  the  rebel  flags  were 
taken  down  from  the  public  buildings,  and  those  of  the  United  States 
were  hoisted  in  their  stead.  All  the  Confederate  gun-boats,  steam- 
rams,  iron-clad  floating  batteries,  chains  and  other  obstructions  in  the 
river,  as  also  the  land  forts,  were  thus  taken  possession  of  or  destroyed. 

Meantime,  General  Benjamin  F.  Butler  had  landed  in  co-operation 
a  considerable  body  of  troops  above  the  Forts,  The  Mayor  of  New 
Orleans,  through  his  obstinate  infatuation  having  excited  popular 
turbulence  and  disorder,  at  last  surrendered  the  city.  General  Lovell 
withdrew  his  small  army  without  making  any  attempt  to  prolong  the 
defence,  and  he  retired  to  Camp  Moore,  about  seventy-eight  miles  on 
the  Jackson  railroad.100  Having  placed  detachments  of  troops  on  both 
sides  of  the  Mississippi  for  protection,  on  the  1st  of  May  General 
Butler  occupied  New  Orleans.  Cut  off  from  all  support,  the  lower 
forts  also  surrendered.  The  task  of  governing  the  city  required 
both  firmness  and  decision  from  General  Butler ;  but  his  administration 
of  affairs  there  was  directed  by  tolerant  and  even  liberal  conduct,  towards 
the  well-disposed  and  orderly.  He  found  the  whole  population  of 
nearly  160,000  almost  in  a  state  bordering  on  starvation,  yet 
with  great  difficulty  he  procured  means  for  their  subsistence. 
To  prevent  mob  violence,  however,  he  was  obliged  to  proclaim 
martial  law.  Moreover,  he  armed  the  free-coloured  men  there 
and  acted  with  great  vigour  in  suppressing  secessionist  manifestations.101 
These  acts  undoubtedly  made  him  unpopular,  raising  a  storm  of  prejudice 
and  calumny  against  him  throughout  the  Southern  States,  and  this  was 
freely  propagated  among  their  partizansin  Europe;  but  while  he  exacted 
rigorously  obedience  to  the  Federal  Government,  he  was  strenuously 


98  See  “  Abraham  Lincoln,  a  His¬ 
tory,”  Vol.  v.,  chap,  xv.,  pp.  252 
to  266. 

99  See  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  iv.,  p. 

100  See  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fletcher's 


“  History  of  the  American  War  from 
1861  to  1865,”  Voi.  i.,  chap,  xvi., 
pp.  397  to  410. 

101  See  James  Parton’s  “  General 
Butler  in  New  Orleans,”  New  York, 
1863,  8vo. 


406 


IRISH- AMERICAN  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


engaged  in  providing  for  the  subsistence  and  in  procuring  health  for  the 
hostile  citizens.  He  had  only  a  force  of  2,500  men  to  garrison  New 
Orleans.  These  were  subjected  to  studied  insults  or  annoyance  by  the 
populace,  and  this  conduct  they  endured  with  great  patience,  especially 
from  females,  who  by  word  and  act  manifested  disrespect  and  hatred 
towards  the  subjugating  General,  his  officers  and  soldiers.102  Meantime 
General  Butler  had  been  placed  in  command  over  the  Department  of  the 
Mexican  Gulf.103 

In  the  west,  having  command  over  Generals  Grant  and  Buell,  and 
having  directed  General  Pope  to  join  his  20,000  troops  then  flushed  with 
recent  victory,  General  Halleck  had  collected  a  very  large  army  at 
Pittsburg  Landing.104  It  amounted  to  100,000  men,  and  thither  he 
arrived  in  person,  on  the  11th  of  April.  He  then  resolved  to  organise 
his  troops  into  divisions;  the  First  Army  Corps,  named  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee  and  constituting  the  right  wing,  was  commanded  by  Grant ; 
the  Second  Army  Corps,  called  the  Army  of  the  Ohio  and  constituting 
the  centre,  was  commanded  by  Buell ;  while  the  Third  Army  Corps, 
called  the  Army  of  the  Mississippi  and  forming  the  left  wing,  was  placed 
under  the  command  of  Pope.  On  the  30th  of  April,  Halleck  issued 
another  order  giving  command  of  the  right  wing  to  General  Thomas, 
whose  division  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio  was  added  to  it,  while  a  reserved 
corps  was  assigned  to  General  McClellan.105  Major-General  Grant 
was  constituted  second  in  command.106  Slowly  and  cautiously  not¬ 
withstanding  his  great  superiority  of  force,  General  Halleck  advanced 
towards  Corinth  ;  whereas  Beauregard  had  less  than  50,000  for  its 
defence.  However,  he  had  skilfully  disputed  the  advance,  and  deceived 
his  antagonist  into  a  belief  that  he  commanded  a  much  more  numerous 
army.  During  the  night  of  May  29th  and  early  on  the  morning  of 
May  30th,  General  Beauregard  evacuated  Corinth,  retreating  with  the 
whole  of  his  army  and  carrying  with  him  everything  valuable.  General 
Halleck  took  possession  of  the  empty  entrenchments,  and  then  he  sent 
General  Pope  in  pursuit  of  Beauregard.  The  latter,  however,  made 
good  his  retreat.107 

In  the  month  of  June,  some  important  operations  were  carried  on  in 
the  West.  Suffering  much  from  a  wound  received  at  Fort  Donelson, 
Commodore  Foote  resigned  the  command  of  his  gun-boats  on  the 
9th  of  May  to  Captain  Charles  Henry  Davis,108  who  proceeded  with  them 


102  See  “  Abraham  Lincoln,  a  His¬ 
tory,”  Vol.  v.,  chap,  xvi.,  pp.  275 
to  287. 

103  See  an  account  of  the  foregoing 
transactions  in  the  “  Autobiography 
and  Personal  Reminiscences  of  Major- 
General  B«jamin  F.  Butler,”  chap, 
vii.,  viii.A  jx.,  x.,  xi. 

104  See  Dt  John  William  Draper’s 
“  History  of  the  American  Civil 
War,”  Vol.  ii.,  sect,  x.,  chap,  i., 
p.  305. 


105  See  Appleton’s  “Cyclopaedia  of 
American  Biography,”  Vol.  iv.,  pp. 
86,  87. 

106  See  “  Abraham  Lincoln,  a  His¬ 
tory,”  Vol.  v.,  chap,  xix.,  p.  337. 

107  See  Alfred  Roman’s  “Military 
Operations  of  General  Beauregard,” 
Vol.  i.,  chap,  xix.,  xx.,  xxi.,  xxii., 
xxiii.,  xxiv.,  pp.  265  to  399. 

108  This  brave  and  accomplished 
officer  was  born  in  Boston  Mass., 
January  16th  1807.  See  Appleton’s 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  TIIE  ATTACK  ON  RICHMOND.  407 

down  the  Mississippi  River.  Fort  Pillow  about  60  miles  above 
Memphis,  and  a  place  of  strength,  had  been  garrisoned  by  the  Confe¬ 
derates.  For  some  time  it  was  bombarded,  and  preparations  had  been 
made  for  an  assault.  It  was  evacuated,  however,  on  the  4th  of  June, 
when  the  garrison  had  removed  or  destroyed  the  greater  portion  of  the 
guns  and  stores.  The  Federals  took  possession,  and  moved  their  gun¬ 
boats  further  down  the  river  without  delay.  On  the  5  th,  they 
anchored  off  Island  No.  45,  near  Memphis.  On  the  6th,  a  naval 
engagement  took  place  on  the  Mississippi,  near  that  town.  It  lasted 
for  an  hour  and  twenty  minutes,  and  it  was  fought  with  great  deter¬ 
mination  on  both  sides.  This  contest  ended  in  the  destruction  of  the  Con¬ 
federate  fleet  of  eight  gun-boats,  under  the  command  of  Commodore 
Montgomery,  by  the  Federal  fleet  of  gun-boats,  under  Commodore 
Davis.  On  that  day,  the  city  of  Memphis  was  surrendered,  and  with 
little  loss  to  the  Federals.109 

“  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Biogra-  “  History  of  the  American  War  from 
phy,”  Vol.  ii.,  pp.  94,  95.  1961  to  1865,”  Vol.  ii.,  chap,  iii.,  pp. 

i0*See  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fletchers  34  to  43. 


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